Mourinho says he won’t run away from Chelsea challenge despite another defeat

Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has broken her silence to insist she was never requested by the Football Association to make a statement about its investigation into alleged remarks made to her by Jose Mourinho during this season’s game against Swansea.

The current Premier League champions are 14th after seven games where they have collected just two league victories.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman will look to exploit any lack of confidence in struggling Chelsea’s back line when his team take on the Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. I repeat, if the FA want to punish me, they don’t punish other managers.

“It should happen after two, three or four [years] but it is something that is helping me to be better”.

“It’s a great negative experience”. Because when we are in the top, I understand that there is quite a big pleasure in putting us down. I told the players at half-time “no panic, we are not losing 4-0, is no panic, 1-1”.

“It’s always about the next match. And I have no doubts that he has to improve in a few aspects”.

If a player receives treatment he has to temporarily leave the pitch – meaning Chelsea, who already had a man sent off, had to play with nine men for a short period.

“We speak about what he has to do to try and improve”.

“He’s not crying, he’s not a prima donna, and I’m critical with him”.

“For sure we know it’s a hard opponent”.

“When you play a disaster it’s easier to make drastic decisions”.

“The team comes with a good spirit, we have a penalty and the penalty is a giant penalty and he was afraid to give, like everybody else is afraid to give”. After the match it’s about calming down and going home.

Jose Mourinho delivered a remarkable speech following Chelsea’s 3-1 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday Night Football. “Top four is completely – I don’t say easy – but doable”.

“Of course (I criticise) in front of the other players, because I coach”, Mourinho said. “One day I will speak and I will choose a day”, Mourinho said.

“I had a big challenge all the time. I read, and listen, and watch, and I am quiet”.

Thibaut Courtois is the only injury absentee – out with a knee injury until December – and Mourinho is looking for goalkeeping cover, with the signing of Marco Amelia possibly close.

“He is working with us”, he said. He knows the responsibility.

Another testing week has only added to the growing sense of unease around the club, with Mourinho forced to defend his relationship with his players after making unexpected changes for the Champions League trip to Porto. But, the last couple of years, he didn’t play so much and he hasn’t trained with a team for a few months.

“What we need is a few cover”. “Maybe defensively they lost a little bit”.