JOSE SPARED AXE: Mourinho receives Chelsea’s board backing as Advocaat leaves the Black Cats

Mourinho feared he would be sacked after Chelsea slipped to their sixth defeat of the season and even appeared to challenge Roman Abramovich to sack him after the game.

Instead, he has been given a stay of execution and has been given the support of the board as they attempt to turn their season around.

It hit a new low following the defeat, leading Mourinho to launch into a seven-and-a-half minute monologue live on Sky TV.

He said: “I don’t run away. If the club wants to sack me they have to sack me because I’m not running away from my responsibilities or my team.”

Despite Abramovich being furious at Chelsea’s current form, there is no immediate danger of Mourinho losing his job. The Russian knows that Mourinho would never return to the club for a third time and doesn’t want to make a snap decision he will later regret. Abramovich had to pay £18m to Mourinho when he ended his first spell back in September 2007 following a series of disagreements.

The owner also realises that this current run of results is the worst period of Mourinho’s illustrious career, something the Portuguese acknowledged himself in a press conference on Friday.

Mourinho has won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge as well as the FA Cup and three League Cups. Chelsea resume after the international break with a home match against Aston Villa on October 17.

Elsewhere, Dick Advocaat has resigned as Sunderland boss, with the team yet to win in the Premier League this season.

The 68-year-old Dutchman was appointed in March, when the Black Cats were one point above the relegation zone. He guided them to safety and was due to leave the club in the summer, only to sign a new one-year contract.

Advocaat said: “I have made the decision to go after only eight games as I felt it was important to give everyone time to turn things around.”

Sunderland Chairman Ellis Short said: “I am truly saddened by Dick’s decision, but I respect him for his honesty.

“It is also testament to his character that he has foregone any kind of a financial settlement, something which is very unusual in football.
Saturday’s draw with West Ham left Sunderland without a win in their first eight league matches and looking for a sixth manager in four years.

Since Steve Bruce was sacked in November 2011, Martin O’Neill, Paolo di Canio, Gus Poyet and Advocaat have managed the club. Advocaat’s departure also follows a trend set by Di Canio and Poyet of managers arriving to save the Black Cats from the drop, only to depart in the next season.

He initially agreed to lead Sunderland only until the end of last season, shedding tears as their survival was secured with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal. Advocaat said he would leave the club to fulfil a promise to his wife, but changed his mind and returned in June.

The former Netherlands, Russia and South Korea boss has seen his side win just once this season - against League Two Exeter in the League Cup. North-east rivals Newcastle are the only team below them in the EPL table. —AFP, BBC