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Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is understood to have held a meeting today with the club’s directors to decide the fate of manager Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese, who led the Blues to the Premier League title last season, is said to be under huge pressure with the club now 16th in the Premier League with just 15 points from their first 15 matches, a point above the relegation zone.
Mourinho still retains strong support from the Chelsea fanbase but Russian billionaire Abramovich held talks with his closest advisors at the club.
Chairman Bruce Buck, directors Marina Granovskaia and Eugene Tenenbaum and technical director Michael Emenalo were thought to be at the meeting.
Mourinho, who received the public backing of the board earlier this season, signed a new four-year deal in the summer after winning the title and is currently the highest-paid manager in the Premier League with an annual salary estimated at anywhere between £8m and £13m.
His new deal did not contain any buy-out clause, meaning Abramovich would be forced to pay a fortune to sack him from Stamford Bridge. Mourinho has reiterated his desire to stay in charge and would likely demand a full compensation package, that is estimated to be in the region of £40million.
That huge price, plus a lack of realistic alternatives could keep Mourinho in his job for the time being.
Abramovich, who was at Stamford Bridge for the 2-0 Champions League win over Porto last week, is also keen to shake the reputation he has for lacking patience with managers.
Source: The Independent UK