Glenn Murray’s 82nd minute header secured Bournemouth’s third win of the season, and their second clean sheet, and the result leaves Chelsea 14 points off a top four spot.
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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. “So if our objective is to fight for top four then you have to think now about finishing top six”.
The loss plunged Chelsea into crisis again and puts Mourinho’s position under further scrutiny, two months to the day since he was subject of the first vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership.
Speaking at the TechCrunch Disrupt London event, Ferguson said: “I have been watching Jose recently and spoken to him a couple of times, and this is the first time he has been confronted with non-success”. Chelsea are not playing with the same level that they played in the past seasons but the Blues have an enormous squad that is capable of beating any European rival.
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“People must feel responsibilities”.
There was widespread belief around the club in the last week that they were past the worst of the crisis and that “the storm is over” – as was reflected in the manager’s upbeat mood in his press conference before the Bournemouth game. The bad moment is my responsibility and the players’ responsibility.
Chelsea are a best price of 21/20 (2.05) to seal their place in the knockout stages with a victory over Mourinho’s former club and 9/4 (3.25) to do so with a draw. “In our best period, when everybody was waiting for our goal, they score”. The referee made a mistake and the linesman made a mistake, and that’s football.
Yet, asked about the mounting criticism of his conservative tactics, United boss Van Gaal said: “I don’t understand that they are shouting “attack, attack” because we are the attacking team and not West Ham”, said the Dutchman.
“The only chance where we had contact with the ball was the Matic one where he had difficulty with the mask, and the cross was really fast”.
On the goal, Mourinho added: “If it was offside it is another episode that goes against us, but I did not see it”. These are big chances. Diego Costa is the only top-class forward they have, but his poor form led the manager to start him on the bench again on Saturday, putting Eden Hazard up front once more.
“The boys are gaining belief every week and I think it showed, ” Murray said after Bournemouth climbed a point outside the relegation zone.
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“We’ve never been in the Premier League before, so when you come to the champions and beat them, I think it must rank as the best individual result of the club’s history”. “It’s a group phase where normally you still play for points”.
