Jose Mourinho issues statement, rules out sabbatical after Chelsea exit

Mourinho was sacked as Chelsea boss after nine defeats in 16 Premier League games with the Blues languishing just one point above the relegation zone.

But a statement has been released by CAA, the agency which represents the Portuguese manager, insisting that he will not be taking a sabbatical.

"Jose Mourinho is pleased that he returned to Chelsea Football Club because he was able to give the fans another Premier League title, which they had not won for many years," the statement read.

"He is immensely proud of his eight trophies at Chelsea, and thanks the fans for all their support throughout his two spells at the club.

"During his career, Jose has sometimes chosen to leave a club, but only at Chelsea has the club decided that he should leave.

"Each time represents for him the end of a cycle, and the opportunity to start a new one. Jose hopes that his future after Chelsea this time will be as successful as when he left the club in 2007.

"Because of his love of football, you will see Jose at football grounds working and supporting friends. He will not be attending any high-profile games because he wants to discourage any speculation about his future," it continued.

"Jose will remain living in London and hopes he and his family will be given the opportunity to do this privately.

"Jose will not speak about his current situation for the foreseeable future. He asks the media to respect this decision."

Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in June 2013 and proceeded to win the Premier League and League Cup last season. He received a new four-year contract in the summer.

But it had been a disastrous campaign leading to his sacking earlier this week and Chelsea's technical director Michael Emenalo referred to a "palpable discord between manager and players" when reflecting upon Mourinho's departure.

This statement appears to be full of thinly-veiled pointed messages to the Chelsea board and players. Mourinho makes the point that he usually leaves clubs on his own terms, but that "only at Chelsea has the club decided that he should leave". He makes the point that "he was able to give the fans another Premier League title, which they had not won for many years" surely with a grin on his face. The fact that he has insisted he does not want to take a sabbatical and "doesn't need it" could be regarded as a remark aimed at Pep Guardiola who famously took a break to recuperate after leaving Barcelona, but it also makes it abundantly clear that he would be very interested in potentially taking the Manchester United job, which he has been linked with for a long time. Put simply, Mourinho does not wish to be out of work for long.