British pundits are scrambling to explain the meltdown at Chelsea leading to reports that Manager Jose Mourinho will leave the club at the end of the season. Chelsea has steamrolled the competition over the last two seasons, making this year’s struggle look like an epic crisis. The Guardian’s Matt Scott says the mounting influence of Chief Scout Frank Arnesen in the club’s player acquisitions has been viewed by Mourinho as a direct affront on his power. Arnesen has repeatedly said he has no role in the acquisition of senior players, but it’s hardly a secret that Mourinho dislikes the Dane. Owner Roman Abramovich clearly lost his faith in the Portuguese manager’s ability to recruit players. Witness the quick arrival and departure of Tiago Mendes and Asier Del Horno for $30 million, and the bit part Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips have played at Stamford Bridge for a little under $67 million. The club has now tried to placate an irate Mourinho by adhering to his repeated public requests for more cover in defense. Mourinho wants right back Micah Richards, who can only be prized from Manchester City for a cool $35 million; Scott says he’s likely to get one of either Tal Ben Haim of Bolton or Standard Liege’s American central defender, Oguchi Onyewu, for about a tenth of that price. Mourinho wants to regain full control of transfer matters before he even considers signing a new contract with Chelsea; he is believed to have the support of chief executive Peter Kenyon, as well as the club’s senior players.