Ahead of Chelsea’s late fixture against Southampton yesterday, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said he is going through the worst period of his managerial career, with his team winning just four of their 11 matches this season.
The English Premier League champions, before yesterday’s fixtures, sat 14th in the table after seven games, having won just twice in the league.
Chelsea, who kept 17 league clean sheets last season, had, before this weekend, kept just one and conceded 14 goals. Only Sunderland, who started the weekend bottom, had let in more in the league.
Photo: Reuters
No team had allowed their opponents more shots on target than Chelsea.
“I define this as the worst period in my career. It is a fantastic experience, even though I do not want to repeat it again,” Mourinho told reporters at the club’s training ground.
“Players know when they make mistakes. I do not know what it is like in your offices, but nobody seems to care about your mistakes,” he said.
Mourinho refused to be drawn on the subject of Eva Carneiro, the former first team doctor who quit after being criticized by the manager.
“I am not going to comment. One day I will, but not today,” the 52-year-old Mourinho said.
Branislav Ivanovic has been heavily criticized for his performances this season, but Mourinho continued to back the player, saying the Serbia international was the best right-back in the league, but conceding that his form must improve.
“I have no doubt Ivanovic is the best right-back, and also no doubt he needs to improve his form. He likes to speak with me about mistakes. He does not cry about it like some newspapers,” he said.
“There is open communication between everyone here, with no crying and no prima donnas,” the former Real Madrid manager added.
Mourinho said he had no fresh injury worries after a 2-1 midweek UEFA Champions League loss to Porto.
Thibaut Courtois’s recovery from injury is going well, with the keeper expected back in December, Mourinho said, while confirming that he hopes to sign former Italy keeper Marco Amelia, who has been training with the team.
Apart from poor results, another issue troubling Chelsea’s fans has been the absence of club captain John Terry from the starting lineup.
Terry has been an unused substitute four times in the last five matches, with the Chelsea faithful chanting: “We want our captain back” after their defeat at Porto on Tuesday.
Asked about Terry’s situation, Mourinho said: “I am happy they sing and support John. It is more important they support John when he is not playing. He is ready to play every game, even when I leave him on the bench, he is ready to play.”
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