Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by league leaders Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Monday night, with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez once again on the mark for the Foxes.
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The defeat leaves Chelsea just a point off the Premier League relegation zone, and 14 points behind the Champions League places.
“I feel my work is betrayed”, he said after the match. We prepared for everything related to the opponent, identified the movements where they have scored nearly all their goals from. He continued, “You get the feeling it’s about to come but the longer the wait you begin to wonder and Chelsea need Hazard to play well”.
“We are top of the league, but for our fans we are top of the league”, he said.
With Chelsea’s season worsening with every passing match-day, Jose Mourinho’s precarious managerial position becomes increasingly scrutinised by the mainstream press and social media. Obviously, results were gradually expected to improve but the fact of the matter is that they haven’t.
“I think the performance of Mahrez and Vardy was fantastic, but they are only the pinnacle of the iceberg because behind them there is a big spirit who work and help each other. I don’t think that”.
“The players have to put their feet on the ground and be humble. This season it has been so hard to do what we did (last season) because some of the players, and it’s not all of them because that’s not fair on some of my players, aren’t (performing)”. I have to be honest with them, but in training they work well. In this moment it is a real big challenge. “His first reaction was “I can’t continue”, his second reaction was “I want to try”, but after his first step back on the pitch he said he couldn’t. I hope Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay”, the 52-year-old said.
Hazard landed on his hip after a challenge from Jamie Vardy and, although he tried to run off the injury, the Belgium forward was in too much pain to continue.
“I have to believe he is injured”.
Algeria global Mahrez curled in a stunning second from the edge of the area three minutes into the second half to put Leicester, continuing a remarkable turnaround after escaping relegation last season, on 35 points, two clear of Arsenal.
Defeat to Sunderland and at least a point for Norwich City at Manchester United could see Chelsea in the bottom three at Christmas, but Mourinho’s side nevertheless face three crucial games in their attempts to reignite their season.
When we scored the goal there was 15 minutes to go which they transformed to five because the match nearly finished there with the ball boys and the injuries. I think we were the best team for 20 to 25 minutes, maximum 30 minutes.
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“No”, replied Ranieri, when asked if he was anxious the lethal duo may leave.
