“These two goals … are two goals very hard to accept, a big frustration to accept because it’s like I feel like my work was betrayed”, Mourinho said after the loss, the team’s ninth of the Premier League season. However, nothing of the kind happened, as Diego Costa was seen gesturing to the likes of Nemanja Matic to wake up from their sleep.
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“I told my players, five more points and we are safe”.
Despite this, when the club’s owners appointed journeyman manager Claudio Ranieri as Pearson’s replacement, Leicester were immediately installed as favourites for relegation by bookmakers who had Chelsea as short-priced favourites to retain their title. Yes, we have, but I think we need to establish our foothold in the league first and then we think about our next step.
Jose Mourinho repeated his view that Chelsea won’t qualify for Champions League.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reacts during his team’s EPL match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
According to the Daily Mail, last season’s PFA Player of the Year was still in “major discomfort” after the game.
There is absolutely no case for him not being good enough to lead the line for a demoralised side perched a point above the relegation zone though.
Leicester City sits on top of the Premier League table after 16 rounds in one of Europe’s biggest stories almost halfway through the season.
That was abundantly clear in the performance and actions of his players during a 2-1 loss to Leicester that plunged the team’s title defense into further embarrassment.
Premier League history carries ominous precedents, with Newcastle United (2001-02), Leeds United (1999-2000) and Aston Villa (1998-99) among the teams to have topped the table at Christmas, only to fall away. The duo has scored 26 goals between them in the Premier League thus far, and both players have been linked with a move to a host of top European clubs in the past week. “They can invent something suddenly and for us it was important to concentrate for 95 minutes”.
For now, at least, Leicester are on cloud nine and as a lengthening list of vanquished opponents can testify, they look to be a match for anyone. “I hope Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay”, the 52-year-old said. And, according to fabled football law it is much easier to add new players to a successful squad rather than a struggling one.
One of a party of two who has arguably seen his stock rise this season, can offer stable back-up to first-choice Courtois. Mourinho has an incling that “it must be a serious injury” because he “left the pitch” and “just made the decision not to go in”.
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This is the situation Mourinho now finds himself in – a manager sitting in the front seat, knowing that conversations are taking place behind him which will be anything but complimentary.
