Mourinho speaks out

LONDON. — Jose Mourinho insists he knows the reasons behind his Chelsea’s disastrous start to the season and admits he’s been waiting for this moment since winning the Champions League soccer title with Porto in 2004.

The English Premier League champions have lost nine of 17 games in all competitions this season ahead of tonight’s Champions League Group G clash with Dynamo Kiev.

With players struggling for form on the pitch and reports of a dressing room revolt, Mourinho claims to know exactly why things have gone so badly wrong for the Blues.

Speaking ahead of the Group G tie against Kiev, Mourinho said: “Yes I know (what’s gone wrong). “If I say why I’ll be here for a long time. It’s a combination of factors and some of them I can’t or don’t even want to touch.”

The 52-year-old manager, who is fighting to save his job at Stamford Bridge, also revealed the moment he predicted a poor run of results would eventually arrive.

He added: “Yesterday, a friend sent me some quotes following the Champions League final in May 2004.

“I told the Press conference ‘one day in my career the bad results will come’ and I will face the bad results with the same dignity as I do now (in 2004).

“It has been 11 years waiting for this. It took time but in the moment I am stable and strong to face it.”

Mourinho’s problems are piling up after he was given a one-match stadium ban and became the subject of a personal legal claim from former first-team doctor Eva Carneiro.

He was subject of the first managerial vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership on October 5, but Chelsea have one win in five games since, against a free-falling Aston Villa.

The Portuguese did not address either matter yesterday at lunchtime.

Reports of dissent in the ranks – one player reportedly said he would prefer to lose than win for Mourinho – have been repeatedly dismissed, with Cesc Fabregas publicly denying he was the ring-leader yesterday morning.

Mourinho said: “Look I think it’s a very sad accusation, because you are accusing a player or more than one player, I don’t know, of dishonesty.

“If I accuse you of being a dishonest journalist, I think you’d be very upset and probably you’d take legal action. It’s a question for the player, not for me.

“(They are) giving their best in every minute of every session, giving solidarity between all of us. (They have) fantastic personal relationships, very good professional relationships, and are training . . . always with a strong desire to win the next match.”

Mourinho refused to say whether he had met Roman Abramovich since a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday that left the champions 14 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after six defeats in 11 games.

Mourinho also refused to discuss how Chelsea have fallen from champions in May to perilously close to the English Premier League relegation zone 11 games into the new season after six losses.

“It’s a combination of factors and some of them I can’t, I don’t want to touch them,” he added.

Mourinho says he still has the support of his players and he will still back them.

“For my players I do everything. I always did and I am not going to change,” Mourinho added.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium suspension with immediate effect and fined 40 000 pounds over a misconduct charge, the English Football Association said on Monday.

The Portuguese admitted an FA charge relating to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials during his side’s 2-1 defeat by West Ham United on October 24.

Mourinho was sent to the stands at Upton Park after trying to speak to referee Jon Moss at half-time following Nemanja Matic’s first-half red card.

It is the latest blow for Mourinho, who is under pressure with Chelsea 15th in the Premier League having lost six of their opening 11 matches – the worst start by any defending Premier League champions.

They are labouring in the Champions League, in which they face Dynamo Kiev tonight, and out of the League Cup.

Mourinho has also been named as a respondent in the legal action being brought against the club by their former team doctor Eva Carneiro for constructive dismissal, sources close to the case said on Monday.

He will be forced to miss Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, who beat Chelsea on penalties in the League Cup last week. — Mailonline.