Roman Abramovich Deserves Credit for Standing by Jose Mourinho in Chelsea Crisis (2024)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho should have been sacked by now.That's the general consensus at least.

No Chelsea manager under Roman Abramovich has lasted a crisis this long. Indeed, no manager under Abramovich has guided the Blues to three straight league defeats or flirted with a relegation battle like Mourinho is doing right now.

We're only in November and the Stamford Bridge club are just four losses shy of equalling their worst tally of defeats since 2000/01 when they finished sixth.

Then again, no manager has filled the Chelsea trophy cabinet quite like Mourinho has—before Abramovich arrived and since.

It's that credit which has probably earned Mourinho a stay of execution. And rightly so.If he can't survive a bad patch in west London, then there's not much hope for any other manager.

Plenty is written about Abramovich, and given his track record with his managers, it's difficult to see the criticism any other way.

Chelsea have been too trigger happy this past decade, chopping and changing regimes at will. That has destabilised the club at times, regardless of the trophies they have won in the process.

So while their dismal league form is setting a new precedent for all the wrong reasons—let's not forget no other Premier League champions have defended their title so tamely—Abramovich's new-found patience is doing similar in a more positive sense.

Never have Chelsea been so poor under Abramovich, yet never has the owner been so accommodating.

The present will tell us otherwise, yet that's empowering for Chelsea. It's empowering for Mourinho knowing he is free to work, empowering for his players knowing the pressure on them is only external.

This new philosophy suggests Abramovich's desire to see Chelsea create something with foundation in the English game is genuine.

We know of the millions Abramovich has ploughed into the club's academy in an attempt to see those coming through the ranks eventually make it to the first team.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is threatening to do that right now, but outside of the 19-year-old, few have come as close in recent years.

That's been down to a host of reasons, namely Chelsea's desire to continue flexing their might in the transfer market. Equally, it has a lot to do with managers coming and going without ever having a chance to develop a plan of integrating youth while remaining successful.

Football has changed significantly since Sir Alex Ferguson was first appointed Manchester United manager in the 1980s. The principles that delivered his Class of '92 remain, though.

For instance, Jurgen Klopp's youthful Borussia Dortmund side took much longer to develop than the two-and-a-bit seasons Mourinho has had back at Stamford Bridge.

If Chelsea change managers now, it just prolongs the process of that ever happening. It means whoever is appointed must acquaint himself with the talented youngsters coming through, all the while arresting this crisis.

In the short term, that's not going to happen, meaning Chelsea would have effectively written off the past two years.That's not healthy and sends the wrong message.

We can only speculate, but Abramovich's decision to stick with Mourinho suggests he understands that.

Most clubs in Europe who have enjoyed success in the areas where Chelsea are looking aren't changing managers consistently in the way Abramovich has. They have a framework in place that supports the manager, feeding their success.

Chelsea remain a long way off fielding a team dominated by academy talent, although there are hints of it gradually happening.

The club has curbed spending in the transfer market meaning some squad positions are gradually being filled by those youngsters coming through.

What we're seeing now at Chelsea is a realisation that things can't continue as they have been, which is why Abramovich should be applauded.

The culture of any organisation is fed from the top down. The owner sets a precedent which filters through to those at the very bottom.

Chelsea are showing rare levels of loyalty and respect. Aside from that, Abramovich is showing a desire that is uncharacteristic in the Premier League by sticking by his manager, despite the furore that is following the club with every bad result.

It's remarkable Chelsea have got this far into the campaign without changing manager. Abramovich wants things to change in west London and is making a stand to ensure they do.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes