Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to accept Jose Mourinho's eccentricities. Mourinho, when under pressure reverts to type and it feels like a re-run of 2007, when Abramovich and the board wearied of such behaviour and decided the relationship, says the Mail on Sunday.

Yet now it appears there is a degree of understanding among the directors, who are supportive of Mourinho. Owner and manager have a much better idea of what they were getting into when they agreed to reunite.

These days it is Marina Granovskaia, who started as Abramovich's PA and worked her way up to the board, who directly represents the owner on the board. And it seems there is an acceptance that Mourinho's outbursts are almost inevitable at this stage of the season.