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Tom Coley

Jose Mourinho tipped for Chelsea return as pundit sends clear message

Jose Mourinho has his heart set on a return to the Premier League if and when he leaves Roma, one of the club's former players has said. The Special One has been a popular figure of discussion throughout his career but has burst back onto the scene once more as his former side Chelsea languish in the table.

Graham Potter is struggling at Stamford Bridge and has lost ten of his 26 matches in charge so far. The Blues are on a run of just one win in 11 games, scoring four times in that period, and are 14th in the form table since Potter took over.

After the latest loss, a 2-0 defeat to one of Mourinho's other former sides Tottenham, the heat has cranked up on Potter another notch. It is now three defeats in a row for the 47-year-old, the third time that has happened in his six months in charge.

READ MORE: Todd Boehly hands Graham Potter 'sacking timeline' as Chelsea dressing room question 'concerned'

For comparison, it took Mourinho two and a half years before he first lost three games in a row at Chelsea during his first stint. It was then a further two and a half years into his second spell before it happened again at SW6, Thomas Tuchel never lost three consectutive matches in his 19 months in charge.

The Portuguese manager has stirred the pot regarding a potential third go as head coach in West London previously and some fans are hoping for it to become a reality. He is an outsider to replace Potter accoriding to the bookies and has even made himself available for to the new owners, according to reports.

Currently at Roma and challenging for second place behind runaway leaders Napoli as well as a second European final in a row, Mourinho's side stumbled on Tuesday to a 2-1 defeat to bottom side Cremonese. Roma's overall good form this season has led some to hypothesise that he could make a remarkable return to Chelsea in order to save the current sinking ship.

It was only earlier this season that he labelled Chelsea as his club, while in an interview in December he went as far as to say he had considered leaving Roma already - Potter's job was under scrutiny then as well. But now, one of Roma's former players, Antonio Cassano, has revealed where his heart really lies.

Speaking on Bobo TV at the weekend, the ex-Italy international said that certain clubs shouldn't be planning to appoint Mourinho any time soon.

"If Inzaghi were to be fired, I would rule out the return of Jose Mourinho," Cassano said. "If an offer from the Premier League were to arrive, the Special One would choose England. The fans fell in love with his attitude (in Italy), but he intends to leave, and for me, he can only go back to Chelsea."

Mourinho has already had two more goes at management in England since departing from Chelsea in 2015, having relative success at Manchester United before being moved on and also trying his hand across London at Tottenham.

His venture back to Italy, where he won the Champions League as Inter boss in 2011, Mourinho is in a job very different to the ones he has previously be appointed in. For many it would be a fairytale should he return and if Cassano is right then it's still something he himself dreams of.

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