The Chelsea board has reportedly ruled out the possibility of Jose Mourinho and three other candidates taking over if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked at the end of the season.
The Argentinian manager, who saw his side thrash West Ham 5-0 on Sunday, has reportedly been given an ultimatum to secure a Europa League spot for next season in order to keep his job at Stamford Bridge.
Currently sitting seventh in the Premier League table with just three games remaining, Chelsea could fall further behind if Manchester United manage to secure at least a point against Crystal Palace tonight. With Newcastle two points ahead, Pochettino's men need to surpass the Magpies to ensure their place in next season's Europa League.
According to a report by David Ornstein on NBC Sport, Chelsea's top brass have made it clear to Pochettino that qualification for the European competition is a must if he wishes to remain in charge for the 2024/25 season. The Blues had already missed one chance to secure their place in the tournament next season after losing the Carabao Cup final to a Liverpool side plagued by injuries.
However, should Pochettino be shown the door, four potential replacements have already been dismissed, according to reports. The most notable name among them is Jose Mourinho, who was rumoured to be in line for a third spell at the west London club following his dismissal from Roma earlier this season.
The 'Special One', as he is fondly referred to by many Chelsea fans, had two successful stints with the club, bagging three Premier League titles, three League Cup trophies and an FA Cup win. Despite his subsequent appointments at rival clubs Manchester United and Tottenham, his achievements at Stamford Bridge are still celebrated.
Antonio Conte, another former Chelsea boss who clinched a top-flight title in the 2016/17 season before leaving on a sour note a year later, also seems unlikely to be offered a second chance at the helm.
Ruben Amorim, the Sporting CP manager who has led his team to the brink of the Primeira Liga title this season, was widely tipped to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield until Arne Slot's appointment was confirmed. Despite holding discussions with West Ham, Amorim has apologised to Sporting supporters and players for his trip to England and looks set to remain in Portugal.
Hansi Flick, despite his impressive track record at Bayern Munich, is the fourth and final name to be dismissed from consideration. Flick guided the German powerhouse to a treble-winning season in 2019/20, including a Champions League triumph over PSG.
He took charge of the German national team in 2021 but was shown the door in September last year following a string of disappointing results.
