Jose Mourinho admits Chelsea need to readjust their targets this term and aim for a top-six finish in the Premier League following Saturday’s 1-0 loss at home against AFC Bournemouth.
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“Chelsea obviously won’t be fighting for relegation – that’s not the point”.
“Before this game, I was still thinking we could finish top four”, Mourinho said.
“I think this season we are a bit unlucky some games, but we have the same good team as previous year and that team was champions so I think we have the quality to get out of this situation and we just have to fight every day, every game”. “Again I feel that we don’t have the right to ask the club for players”, said Mourinho. He’s part of one of the best clubs in the world, he won many titles last year… this year it’s a bit more difficult but it’s football; every player, every club, goes through hard times.
“People must feel responsibilities… the owner and the board they are not responsible for the bad moment”.
However, Courtois says the belief is still there in the squad.
And while Chelsea are in their worst slump in as long as anyone cares to remember, Casillas knows Mourinho better than to underestimate them.
Under-fire striker Diego Costa again started on the bench for Chelsea but was unable to make an impact after being introduced at half-time.
“I don’t think we have defended too badly (this season)”.
“You can not have bigger details than one penalty that is not given and one goal offside that decides the game”.
And Mourinho was left convinced that “important mistake” was a turning point in the game. But despite pushing for a precious goal, Chelsea couldn’t break down Eddie Howe’s disciplined side. “We broke well and counter-attacked well a couple of times and gave them problems and we defended well”. “I can just work and that is what I am going to do to try to get a result on Wednesday [at home to Porto] to get through to the next round of the Champions League”.
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The hosts looked hungry for the win as they pressed on their opponents early in the first half, creating goal-scoring opportunities but failed to convert those half chances.
