VIDEO: Chelsea stand by players and insist Jose Mourinho simply had to go

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea exit boiled down to “palpable discord” with his Stamford Bridge squad, according to Blues board member Michael Emenalo.

Eva Carnerio

Chelsea parted company with Mourinho yesterday after two days of crisis board meetings, with Guus Hiddink the front-runner to slot in as interim boss.

Indeed, last night former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman claimed Hiddink had already told him he was returning to Stamford Bridge.

Blues chiefs insisted Mourinho had left the club “by mutual consent”, just seven months after lifting the Premier League title. And Chelsea’s technical director Emenalo insisted club bosses do not accept accusations the Blues’ players had any underhand role by trying to undermine Mourinho.

“Whilst there is huge sentiment for the individual who has done so much for the club, the fact of the matter remains that Chelsea Football Club is in trouble,” Emenalo said.

Michael Emenalo

“The results are not good. There obviously seems to be palpable discord between manager and players, and we feel it was time to act. The owner was forced to make what was a very tough decision for the good of the club.

“Chelsea Football Club is one point above relegation in the English Premier League and that’s not good enough.

“Anyone who loves the club, who has any kind of affiliation to the club, can understand that this club is in trouble, and something needed to be done.”

Mourinho’s departure has centred around nine defeats in 16 league games this term, a shocking descent into the relegation mire.

The messy September exit of Dr Eva Carneiro, now taking action against the club, after being branded “naive” by Mourinho in August, has been viewed externally as causing extra unrest.

Eva Carnerio

Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas was forced to fend off rumours of dressing room revolts against Mourinho earlier in the season.

Now Emenalo has further backed Chelsea’s players, insisting none of the Stamford Bridge squad had any part to play in Mourinho’s exit.

The Blues are said to favour Italy manager Antonio Conte as their top choice for a long-term appointment, but his contract runs until after Euro 2016.

Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola — long admired by Abramovich — is also a certain contender. Whether he is interested remains to be seen as the prepares to announce his future plans.

First-team coach Steve Holland could take charge of tomorrow’s home Premier League clash with Sunderland, to hand the Blues board more time to complete the search for Mourinho’s short-term replacement.

Former Netherlands manager Hiddink took interim charge at Chelsea in 2009 after the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, and could now reprise his caretaker role in west London.

“This is essentially the same group of players who won the league and the league cup last season,” said Emenalo.

“They play to instruction, they adhere to everything the manager asked them to do. So I think it’s very easy to make that inference (that the players helped caused Mourinho’s exit) but it’s not one the club accepts.”

Chelsea confirmed Mourinho’s exit in a statement yesterday afternoon.

“Chelsea and Jose Mourinho have today parted company by mutual consent,” the statement read.

“All at Chelsea thank Jose for his immense contribution since he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.

“His three league titles, FA Cup, Community Shield and three League Cup wins over two spells make him the most successful manager in our history.

“But both Jose and the board agreed results have not been good enough this season and believe it is in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways.”

Former Stamford Bridge favourite Alan Hudson was quick to stick the knife into Mourinho, claiming Chelsea would not be fifth from bottom if Alex Ferguson had been in charge.

Hudson, who featured in 189 games for the Londoners in two playing spells between 1968-74 and 1983-84, blamed Chelsea’s woeful form this season on their outspoken coach.

He said: “What’s happened to Chelsea this season wouldn’t have happened under Ferguson. Manchester United would never have been fifth from bottom while he was in charge there because he would have cracked the whip.”