Mourinho shifts focus to top six

Chelsea have been defeated by newly promoted side AFC Bournemouth at the Stamford Bridge by a lone goal.

He said: “Our objective is to finish top four”.

However, Mourinho added: “I am concerned of course”.

They face a Champions League fixture next week against FC Porto and Courtois is sure Chelsea have the talent to fight their way back to a successful season. That is not the problem.

“Our objective is to finish top four”, the Portuguese told BBC Sport.

“With some players, you don’t know when they are performing really well and when the performances is below level, it’s hard. You think there is an evolution but the next day you realise it’s not evolution it was just an individual moment, and to get results you have to be consistent and we are not because of some individuals”.

Asked about the clash, Mourinho was encouraged by an improvement after the interval and was unimpressed by the officiating once again.

“We started this season with this squad and the players have to do better”.

Eddie Howe has suffered injuries to key players, and last-minute goals that might have derailed a less robust manager in his rookie season in the top flight but this time he went up against the champions and won.

“People must feel responsibilities… the owner and the board they are not responsible for the bad moment”.

With that in mind, we’ve devised a list of FIVE Chelsea players who Blues supporters need to bid goodbye to in the January transfer window with their contributions being close to non-existent at the moment.

Mourinho left the striker on the bench for the second consecutive match, and speaking before the game on Saturday Night Football, Redknapp said Costa “disrespected” the manager by throwing a bib in his direction at White Hart Lane, and had to pay the price. “I thought we were very good with the ball”. Especially in the second-half we did more than enough to win the game.

The hosts looked hungry for the win as they pressed on their opponents early in the first half, creating goal-scoring opportunities but failed to convert those half chances.

“We didn’t deserve to lose”, Mourinho is quoted as saying by the BBC.

“I think Simon’s committed to his slide”, he said.

█ The referee made an important mistake.

“Is it confidence? They’ve lost eight games, they are 21 points worse off than at this time last season”.