Jose IS heading back to Chelsea… Premier League apologise after website gaffe but Real Madrid chief confirms Mourinho will return

By JOHN DRAYTON

PUBLISHED: 09:39, 2 June 2013 | UPDATED: 13:33, 2 June

Just hours after the Premier League apologised for posting a website article prematurely announcing that Jose Mourinho is back in charge at Stamford Bridge, Real Madrid have confirmed that their former boss is indeed returning to Chelsea.

Florentino Perez, who was re-elected as Real Madrid president for another four years this morning, told Sky Sports News that Mourinho is to become Chelsea manager for the second time.

 

The news follows an article, dated Monday 3 June, which appeared on the Premier League website this morning with the title ‘Mourinho returns as manager of Chelsea’, revealing that the Portuguese coach has signed an ‘xx-year contract’.

 

The article was later removed – perhaps after someone had made an early Sunday morning dash to the office to hit the delete button.

The Premier League has since apologised to Chelsea and indicated it was an article which was being prepared in anticipation of a possible announcement.

A spokesman said: ‘It was a publishing error. We took it down as soon as we were notified of it, and we’ve spoken to and apologised to Chelsea.

‘We have no prior knowledge of any movement or any announcement (regarding Mourinho).’

The Premier League is now trying to ascertain whether the publication of the article was the result of a system failure or human error.

Mourinho ended his three-year reign in Spain on Saturday night with a 4-2 win over Osasuna.

The 50-year-old bid farewell to the fans ahead of the game and then received a mix of cheers and jeers at the Bernabeu hours later.

But there were question marks raised over the future of Manchester United and Chelsea target Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the match with the Spanish club citing back injury for his absence from the squad.

After the match Mourinho waved to the Real fans before heading swiftly down the tunnel.

Perez is now on the lookout for a replacement but did not rule out a return for Mourinho to the club in the future.

On the credentials he is looking for in a new manager, Perez told Spanish newspaper ABC: ‘A coach who understands them well, and that we compliment the team with some improvements, but not many.

‘The door isn’t closed for Mourinho. He leaves saddened after struggling to understand what the media are like here.’

Meanwhile, former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho believes that his old boss can bring the Premier League trophy back to Stamford Bridge once again.

Carvalho told Sky Sports: ‘I’m sure in two, three years they can but even in his first year he can win it again.

‘When we arrived together in 2004 Chelsea had not won the league for 50 years so I hope now they can win it again. Jose is a special coach and I think he deserves all the best because he works very hard.

‘Chelsea are a special club for me and I wish for them to win the Premier League again.’

And Arjen Robben, who played under Mourinho during his three-year spell at Chelsea, also believes that the club can rule England with ‘The Special One’ back in charge.

‘It’s a big move for Chelsea with Jose coming back but I know it is one the fans will welcome,’ he told The Sunday People.

‘He had very successful years at Chelsea and he can have them again.

‘The thing about Jose is that he will win at any cost; he doesn’t care how, he just wants to win.

‘I’ve not always been supportive of the style of football he plays, but he is a winner who has achieved great success. I am sure that with some big signings from the owner that Jose and Chelsea can rule England again.’

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2334610/Jose-Mourinho-Real-Madrid-confirm-Chelsea-comeback-Premier-League-blunder.html#ixzz2V45gjBCy

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