SPORTS: Under-fire Chelsea boss Jose Mouirnho leaves training ground on Monday

Jose Mourinho showed the strain as he left training on Monday as the pressure mounts on him at Chelsea.

The Blues boss is in the spotlight after Saturday's defeat to West Ham, a fifth of the season, where he was sent to the stands after a half-time confrontation in the tunnel.

 The club have insisted Mourinho still has the full support of the hierarchy but a defeat to Liverpool this weekend could see them change tack.

Should they act and axe their title-winning boss it could cost some £30million after the Portuguese penned a lucrative new deal only this summer.

Mourinho will be on the bench for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup game at Stoke and then it’s a lunchtime showdown with Liverpool at the Bridge on Saturday.

Should he be axed, ex-bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink are immediately available.
Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf said: “I’d like to see him stay – anyone can have a poor season. I hope he will do better next season if he stays.”

Mark Hughes has the chance to pile yet more misery on the Chelsea boss tomorrow but is confident the Portuguese will turn his former club around.

 "He says it himself that he's a top manager," said the former Blues striker. "He's the best manager Chelsea have ever had so why would they change him?

"I don't anticipate they'll be in the position they are for too much longer. They seem to be struggling to get points on the board when maybe in the past you'd expect them to.
"Sometimes teams go through this period, whatever level you are and quality you have. Chelsea have quality right through the squad that will enable them to come through these moments I'm sure.

"It's a period he's faced at other times in his career, but one he has the knowledge and understanding of how to address that and to turn that round. I don't think anyone thinks that he won't."

Chelsea are also set to be fined £25,000 and asked for their observations on three disciplinary incidents that occurred in Saturday's clash at Upton Park.

An FA spokesman said on Monday that the automatic fine would be implemented because six players received yellow cards. One of them, Nemanja Matic, was sent off, making seven cautions in all.

The FA are awaiting referee Jon Moss' report before deciding on further punishment.

 But Mourinho's own dismissal wouldn't necessarily trigger the suspended stadium ban that he faces after criticising another official following the home defeat by Southampton earlier this month.