Chelsea have two giants of Spanish football to consider when choosing a manager, writes SID LOWEin Madrid

COULD THE man who never really went away be about to come back? Or could it be the only man to have succeeded in overshadowing him who touches down in London? As if captured by the Spanish game, by the two giants forever condemned to confrontation, Chelsea may be about to take Jose Mourinho versus Pep Guardiola to another sphere.

Andre Villas-Boas succeeded in following Mourinho into Porto but he could not succeed in following his legacy at Stamford Bridge. Picking up where Mourinho has left off has rarely been easy, so dominant has his presence been. So powerful is Mourinho’s identification with success, so close his relationship with the dressing room, so complete his communion with fans, that a part of him always remained. He never forgot and nor did they. Rafa Benitez found that at Internazionale; now Villas-Boas has found it at Chelsea.

The man who is now Chelsea’s ex-manager, their fifth in four and a half years spoke of the Special One this week. “The most successful part of this club’s history is related to Jose,” he said. “But the only place where Jose’s shadow is not lurking is Barcelona. If you can train a manager to be the best, everyone wants him.” He had a point: Barcelona chose Pep Guardiola over Mourinho. Guardiola won everything. The following season Mourinho, by then at Inter, did the same. Two trebles in a row. Guardiola has failed to win just three of 16 trophies available to his team. Two of those three were denied him by Mourinho.

He, meanwhile, denied Mourinho two of three trophies in his first season at Madrid and he has faced him 10 times, losing just once. Along the way, the conflict grew so great that a reconciliation in Catalonia is now impossible for the Portuguese.

Even in times of success, there was something missing after Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea and in some ways this remains his club. In part, because the nucleus of his team remains: that core that Villas-Boas found so difficult to circumvent.

Grant, Scolari, Hiddink, Ancelotti. All came, none truly conquered. Not only have Chelsea missed him; he has missed them. On those occasions that he has spoken about foreign fields, he has spoken with warmth and affection about England. “The Premier League,” he said, “is my passion.” Put simply: he has not enjoyed Spain as much as he enjoyed England.

Chelsea spoke to Benitez’s camp about taking over, but the offer would only have been to the end of the season, at which point they would think again and other managers would be available. Benitez was not convinced. Nor were Chelsea’s supporters. Those European clashes weigh heavily; trenches previously occupied are not easily vacated.

Timing is everything and it could prove propitious for Mourinho. La Liga is likely to be Madrid’s now, wrested from Barcelona for the first time in four years. Mourinho can depart a winner, another record notched up – league title winner in Spain as he was in Portugal, England and Italy. There is still the European Cup to come too – Mourinho is aware that lifting the trophy with a third club would be unique, his place in history assured. Achieve that and his work here will be done.

Mourinho has consistently refused to comment on his future. Others have sent messages for him. The message has been clear – Jose wants to come “home”. Chelsea are not the only club that offer an English return, but there is attraction in sorting out the superficial mess left by his former friend and now rival. Few others will have the ability to handle the generational change needed – among those who must have their careers prolonged or brought to a close are some of Mourinho’s most loyal players.

From Chelsea’s point of view, there are few apparent candidates. If Benitez was a serious long-term option, he would already be in place. Guus Hiddink took up employment elsewhere. Fabio Capello has hardly seen his reputation enhanced with England. If he was an option, though, why not now?

As for Guardiola, Roman Abramovich has tried before to import Barcelona, while the Spaniard’s delay in signing a contract extension at the Camp Nou gives Chelsea some hope.

Guardiola’s messages have been very different from Mourinho’s, though; his actions have felt more like those of a man withdrawing from the spotlight, not leaping back into it.

Spanish football has boasted of the greatest rivalry in sport, often reduced to its key players, handy representatives of differing identities and different approaches: Madrid v Barca, Ronaldo v Messi, Mourinho v Guardiola. Abramovich can be forgiven for being seduced by their different charms. They may not be seduced by his.