Chelsea say Mourinho retains ‘full support’

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continues to enjoy the club’s “full support” despite a disappointing start to the season, the Premier League champions declared on Monday.

“The club wants to make it clear that Jose continues to have our full support,” Chelsea said in a brief statement published on their website.

“As Jose has said himself, results have not been good enough and the team’s performances must improve. However, we believe that we have the right manager to turn this season around and that he has the squad with which to do it.”

Chelsea are currently two places above the Premier League relegation zone after losing four and winning only two of their first eight league games.

Speaking after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton, Mourinho openly discussed the risk of dismissal, but said that he had no intention of walking away from the club.

“If the club wants to sack me, they have to sack me, because I am not running away,” he told Sky Sports in a candid post-match interview.

“It is a crucial moment in the history of this club because if the club sacks me, they sack the best manager this club has had and the message is bad results and the manager is guilty.

“This is a moment for people to assume their responsibilities. I assume my responsibility and the players should assume theirs too.

“There are other people at the club who should assume their responsibilities and stick together.”

Mourinho, 52, returned to Chelsea for a second spell in 2013, having previously led the west London club to two Premier League titles, two League Cups and one FA Cup between 2004 and 2007.

He masterminded a Premier League and League Cup double last season, but Chelsea have made a curiously flat start to the current campaign despite their title-winning squad remaining largely intact.

Chelsea’s statement came a day after Brendan Rodgers became the first managerial sacking of the season at Liverpool and Dick Advocaat stepped down from his role at Sunderland.

Chelsea captain John Terry had already given Mourinho his backing, telling the club website: “We have a big group of players and we have the best manager who we remain behind and we remain together.”