It was mutual, says Chelsea

Chelsea tonight confirmed the relationship between Jose Mourinho and the club had "broken down" after the manager left the club by mutual consent.

Director of football Avram Grant and assistant manager Steve Clarke have been put in charge of first-team affairs, with their first job to prepare the team to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mourinho's relationship with the club had clearly soured beyond the point of being salvaged, and the Blues hierarchy felt it had begun to affect performances.

Chelsea statement in full:

“It is only right that we explain the reasons behind Jose Mourinho leaving Chelsea and also recognise the immense contribution he has made to the club and to English football.

“Early this morning we announced that Chelsea and Jose Mourinho had agreed to part company by mutual consent.

“The key phrase here is that there was mutual agreement. Jose did not resign and he was not sacked.

“What is clear, though, is we had all reached a point where the relationship between the club and Jose had broken down.

“This was despite genuine attempts over several months by all parties to resolve certain differences.

“The reason the decision has been taken is that we believed the breakdown started to impact on the performance of the team and recent results supported this view. We did not want this to continue or affect the club further.

”Chelsea immediately named their director of football Avram Grant as his successor and, in the same statement, paid tribute to their outgoing coach.

“Chelsea’s long-term football objectives and ambitions remain unchanged and the appointment of Avram Grant and Steve Clarke is aimed at continuing to achieve those goals.

“We also must pay tribute to the great job Jose did for Chelsea. He has been the most successful manager the club has known and he rightly deserves that place in our history. Jose has been instrumental in putting Chelsea where it is today, among the leading clubs in European and world football.

“He will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge, whether as the guest of Chelsea or as the manager of another club, and he will be given the reception and respect his position in our history deserves.”