Search the Community

Carlo Ancelotti's future at Chelsea looks increasingly bleak after his team were beaten by Everton in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round. Ashley Cole missed the decisive penalty, leaving veteran Phil Neville to send Everton into the sixth round with a 4-3 shoot-out victory after the teams were locked at 1-1 following extra-time. Ancelotti admitted: 'Every time the team do not get the right result, the manager is under pressure.' But Chelsea have now won just seven games in their last 21 in all competitions and have only the Champions League to play for, a trophy which has been an obsession for owner Roman Abramovich since he bought the club in 2003. If Chelsea's owner does opt to replace Ancelotti, it could mean a dramatic return for former manager Jose Mourinho, who may be forced out of his current job at the end of the season by political problems at Real Madrid. Former Dutch star Marco van Basten is an alternative candidate to take over if Mourinho stays at Real. Now out of the Cup, Chelsea are also struggling to stay in touch in the Premier League title race and are in danger of missing out on qualifying for next year's Champions League, which would be a financial calamity for the club. Realistically, Ancelotti may be able to save his job only by impressing Abramovich in the Champions League, in which Chelsea take on Copenhagen in Denmark in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday. But the return of Mourinho, who is Chelsea's most successful manager and still an iconic figure with the fans, is now being given serious thought by aides to Abramovich. The 48-year-old Portuguese attended Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Fulham last Monday. He has always considered Manchester United as the club he would most like to manage after Real, hoping to be Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, and he has always resisted the idea of returning to Stamford Bridge. However, encouraged by some close to Abramovich, it is believed Mourinho would not rule out a return if the job became available. He is still close to several senior players in the Chelsea team and has been in contact by text message recently urging them to: 'Keep the faith.' Despite the acrimony when he left the club in September 2007, Mourinho has remained in touch with Abramovich and is still on friendly terms with the Russian and his advisers. Mourinho is under contract at Real for another three-and-ahalf years but is involved in a battle of wills with director general Jorge Valdano. The right-hand man of club president Florentino Perez has criticised Mourinho's tactics and resisted his urgings to sign another striker. The struggle between the two calmed last week but will reignite should Real Madrid struggle to keep pace with Barcelona or fail to win the Champions League. Read more: That's your Ancelotti! Chelsea owner ready to swing the axe after shock FA Cup defeat | Mail Online