Chelsea handed Jose Mourinho update as Barcelona offer appointment hint

Barcelona have indicated that a potential move for former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is not in the offing as Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure at Chelsea continues to be scrutinised.

A classy 3-0 win away at Aston Villa in Wednesday’s FA Cup replay has quelled some of the angst Blues supporters were feeling after shipping four goals apiece in defeats to Liverpool and Wolves over the previous week.

However, after Monday’s trip to struggling Crystal Palace, Chelsea face Manchester City in the Premier League before the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on February 25. Poor performances in either will leave Pochettino under more pressure ahead of the final few months of the season.

The Argentine has always underlined how it will take time for his game plan to be implemented into the squad amid the mass turnover of players since Todd Boehly’s arrival. But that has not stopped the rumour mill from turning with several names being linked as possible successors if the season falls apart.

Mourinho, sacked by Roma last month, is currently available for hire. He was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but has reportedly turned down the opportunity as he spies his next role in Europe.

Mourinho was apparently seen in Barcelona in recent weeks, albeit not necessarily for football-related activity. It nevertheless sparked rumours of a Nou Camp appointment despite his Madrid past with current boss Xavi set to leave the club at the end of the season.

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