Ancelotti preparing to take up Mourinho slack again at Chelsea
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Although he’s previously distanced himself from a second Chelsea stint, there is mounting speculation that Carlo Ancelotti will be the man to replace Jose Mourinho, should the latter depart Stamford Bridge.
Having been relieved of his duties as Blues manager in 2011, despite landing Chelsea a Premier League and FA Cup double, Ancelotti’s reluctance to return to west London was entirely understandable.
However, just as Mourinho managed to repair relations with club owner Roman Abramovich before taking up the reins for a second time, the lure of a top level post becoming available looks like proving too strong for the currently jobless Ancelotti.
Fellow Italian Fabio Capello actually shades the betting to become the next permanent Chelsea manager at 7/2, though largely unsuccessful reigns as England and Russia national coach since 2008 have blotted his CV somewhat.
In the same period 4/1-shot Ancelotti has been busy hoarding some of Europe’s top club honours at three separate destinations, making him one of the most sought after managers around.
Having landed the double for Chelsea, the Ligue 1 title was secured at Paris St-Germain, before the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Copa del Rey followed at Real Madrid latterly.
The 56-year-old replaced Mourinho at the Bernabeu as well, taking very little time to end Los Blancos’ decade-long European Cup drought, an achievement that his predecessor had been almost exclusively employed to accomplish.
Ancelotti’s CV does its own talking, especially where the Champions League is concerned, as alongside legendary Liverpool boss Bob Paisely the former AC Milan midfielder is the only manager to have lifted it on three occasions.
On the eve of the Blues’ Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev, the pressure on Mourinho’s tenure has reached a new peak off the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool in the top-flight – Chelsea’s sixth in defence of their title already this season.
The Portuguese tactician has subsequently seen his odds tumble to 1/3 to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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