Jose Mourinho has been told he will have to accept working under Technical Director Michael Emenalo if he wants to return to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho raised the hopes and expectations of the Blues fans that he was on his way “home” as he spoke warmly of the enduring “love” from the Chelsea faithful.
But while the “Special One” and his advisors have been involved in negotiations with the Chelsea hierarchy for months, his initial demands for “full control” have been rebuffed.
And that could still end up sending him in the direction of Paris St Germain, who have also held talks with his agent Jorge Mendes and are likely to bend over backwards to offer the 50-year-old a deal he wants.
Mourinho’s preferred option is to go back to Chelsea, six years after his rift with Roman Abramovich and the Blues board became irreparable.
The Portuguese knows that the Chelsea fans are demanding his return too, seeking the ultimate antidote to the reign of the detested Rafa Benitez.
Abramovich is ready to bankroll another spending spree to improve a squad acknowledged as not strong enough to win the Premier League, although the Russian will not cede his authority.
Since Mourinho left in 2007, the structure of the club has changed, with Emenalo in charge of player recruitment and involved in the ongoing negotiations to land Atletico Madrid striker Radomel Falcao and Andre Schuerrle from Bayer Leverkusen.
And although it seems that Mourinho is attempting to orchestrate a popular wave to bring him back to the Bridge in triumph, it has been made clear that both Emenalo and chief executive Ron Gourlay have Abramovich’s full support and backing.
Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is a live contender for the Blues job, while Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp, David Moyes and former Chelsea favourite Gianfranco Zola are outside runners.
Mourinho, though, remains the most likely final choice, with the Portuguese’s camp now suggesting he would still be interested in the job even if Chelsea do not finish in the top four and therefore miss out on a Champions League place.
Benitez hinted at his disquiet at Mourinho’s public craving for his job when asked if the Portuguese had broken the manager’s “unwritten code” of conduct.
“Everybody has their own way,” snapped back Benitez. “My way is to concentrate on the next game. That’s it.”
The Spaniard, though, declined to say any more about his bitter rival, unwilling to stoke up the resentment of the Chelsea fans who still hold the Portuguese in reverence and awe any further.
[Mirror]