STOKE CITY BOSS Mark Hughes believes Chelsea would be crazy to sack Jose Mourinho despite the Blues’ poor start to the season.
The Premier League champions sit 15th in the table after suffering defeats in five of their 10 matches so far this campaign, with reports suggesting another loss to Liverpool on Sunday could lead to the sacking of the former Real Madrid boss.
Other reports claim that is not the case, though the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will discuss Mourinho’s future during the November international break in around two weeks’ time.
And speaking ahead of his side’s League Cup clash with the Blues, Hughes feels the west London outfit would be mad to move on their most successful manager at such an early stage of the season.
“He says it himself, he’s a top manager and he’s the best manager Chelsea have ever had so why would they change?” he told reporters.
“It’s a period he’s faced at other times in his career but one he has the knowledge and understanding of how to address that and to turn that round. I don’t think anyone thinks that he won’t.
“Jose is one of the characters of Premier League and world football. People want to hear what he says and rightly so because of the success he’s had.”
Hughes also hinted at a return to the Potters starting XI for captain Ryan Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday.
Shawcross has yet to feature for Stoke this season after undergoing surgery on the troublesome back injury that hampered him during the closing months of the 2014-15 campaign.
But the 28-year-old has been making steady progress in his recovery, and Hughes is hopeful he will be able to field his skipper against the Blues.
“Ryan Shawcross is very much in my thoughts – he needs games now and needs to get back up to speed. He is chomping at the bit – he wants to be involved.”
Shawcross’ chances of a return were boosted by a thigh injury to fellow defender Geoff Cameron during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Watford in the Premier League, and Hughes also confirmed there are doubts over Marc Muniesa and Bojan Krkic.
