The Blues are now 20 points adrift of Claudio Ranieri’s table toppers, and only one point above the relegation zone in 16th with Mourinho have given up on their hopes of finishing in the top four. “But to be in a battle is to be there for three or four months and I don’t think this will be so”.
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“They were very consistent and very focused”.
“At the moment it costs us a lot to score goals”, a clearly frustrated Mourinho told reporters. They were aggressive with everybody playing high intensity, high tempo and with a great mentality.
“I know that one of my best qualities is to read the game for my players, to read the opponent, to identify the threat of the opponent”.
It’s to read the opponent and identify every detail about the opponent. “Anybody can say that someone is good or not, but when you have been in so many leagues in Europe and you have won the league it shows that you are one of the best”.
Mourinho’s comments after the match drew plenty of attention, as he placed the blame for the defeat firmly on the players, saying that he feels as though his work was “betrayed” by a number of them, and that Eden Hazard made the decision to take himself off injured.
“It’s obvious we did not play at our best level”.
“When you have some players, especially in some crucial positions don’t reach that level, it’s hard”.
Either the manager won’t be there, or they’ll have to completely change the players because I don’t think there’s any way these players and manager can work together for a long period of time.
The champions’ dismal defence of their title became even more desperate as they suffered a ninth league loss of the season.
We’ve been here before at Chelsea where managers change in the middle of the season.
Chelsea’s fall from grace is remarkable – they stand 16th in the table – and Mourinho offered an explanation that asked fresh questions of his players. “And again, I have to be honest and say that day by day in training I have no complaints with the players”. I feel that my work was betrayed. “They don’t have the money and they don’t have a price”, Ranieri told his post-match media conference after Leicester’s 2-1 win against Chelsea.
“I don’t think they can feel they are top players or they are superstars”.
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“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”.
