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Jose Mourinho receives backing of Chelsea despite Southampton defeat

Chelsea have offered manager Jose Mourinho and his squad a vote of confidence following their 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

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Chelsea’s 3-1 reverse to Southampton means the defending champions now have just eight points from their opening eight league fixtures.

However, despite having acknowledged in a statement that results “must improve”, the Blues revealed that there were no plans to relieve the 52-year-old of his duties.

“With the score at 1-1 (there was) a huge penalty and once more we don’t get it”, he said.

The FA said in a statement that Mourinho’s remarks constitute improper conduct as they imply bias, and bring the game into disrepute.

“If the Football Association wants to punish me they can”.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho gestures during the English Premier… Mourinho believes that his team deserved a penalty and that the awarding of one combined with the converting of it could have seen the game take a different course.

Mourinho was aggrieved that Radamel Falcao was booked for diving after an incident involving Southampton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and said match officials were “afraid” to give his side decisions.

“I define this as the worst period in my career”, Mourinho said on Friday. “I think you should go straight to the players”, he told the press. We need to get back to basics, work even harder, and I’m sure collectively we’ll do that.

“If they tell you they don’t trust me, [that] is the only thing that can make me resign”.

The Portuguese has until Thursday evening to respond.

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The former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto manager remained defiant on Saturday in his post-match press conference, claiming he would not walk away from the club and nearly daring owner Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board to sack him as he declared himself to be the best manager ever for the club.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho speaks at the press conference