The results of these matches will define Chelsea’s season and Mourinho’s future at Stamford Bridge.
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Mourinho, who claimed two Serie A titles and a European Cup with Internazionale between 2008 and 2010, was also asked to respond to Fabio Capello’s recent assertion that, after 18 months, the Portuguese’s players are often “burned out” and mentally spent under his stewardship.
The striker was quoted as saying by AS: “We know we are not there where we wanted to be at the beginning of the season”.
“I think it is very normal that when we are not playing well and we are losing for the manager to take it out on the players. I do not know”, explanation for the Blues’ worst start to a season in nearly 40 years – but the self-anointed Special One appears resolute in his intention to get back to winning ways. Maybe a few weeks ago, five or six weeks ago, I was not on top of my game. When I returned, I was a little overweight.
Games in 2014/15 where Mourinho had chances to rest starting options (the sixth game of the Champions League group stage vs. Sporting Lisbon or the auxiliary games left once the Premier League was clinched), the same veteran names filled Chelsea’s team sheet. I’m responsible 100%, and so are the other guys.
“So all we can do now is train very hard and work very hard”.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa says he was out of shape at the start of the season but remains firmly behind coach Jose Mourinho.
Diego Costa has lashed out at Jose Mourinho’s critics and accused them of revelling in the Chelsea manager’s crises. Always when things don’t go the way that everyone expects, people, the supporters as well, always look for someone to blame. Costa, in a rare display of humility, has laid part of the blame for Chelsea’s start on himself.
The 28-year-old’s current deal expires in 2017 and manager Jose Mourinho wanted to tie down the midfielder to a long-term contract before other clubs come circling over him. ‘I strongly believe we have the quality to do it. We are doing the best we can to get out of this situation that we have put ourselves in. Most importantly, they should trust their leader and according to Ramires, the players haven’t lost a single drop of faith in their manager.
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“I’m here because I’m happy with the manager, I’m here because my team-mates have gone away to the worldwide break, I don’t like giving interviews, but I’m speaking for the group”, said Costa.
