Jose Mourinho, 'Stand Up for the special one'

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Jose Mourinho feels embarrassed ..



Jose Mourinho is embarrassed by the adulation from Chelsea supporters which comes during a miserable season. (Tony, Tony, give us a wave)
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Jose Mourinho admits he got it wrong when he said Leicester were in a false position.

Defending champions Chelsea are 14th in the Premier League entering this weekend's fixtures and could even be in the relegation zone before their Monday fixture at leaders Leicester.

The 52-year-old's position as boss appears precarious despite Chelsea advancing to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday night against Porto.

In front of Roman Abramovich, who on October 5 issued the first managerial vote of confidence in 12 years as owner in support of Mourinho, the Blues fans lauded the Portuguese and rose in unison to salute their boss once victory was sealed.

"When people are so nice to me and they sing my name and 'Stand up for the Special One', I feel a bit embarrassed, because I don't know how to react," Mourinho said.

Mourinho was unhappy to see Garry Monk lose his job as Swansea boss this week and criticised the culture of firing managers.

He remains convinced he will stay in charge after signing a four-year contract until June 2019 on the eve of the season.

"The bad results are not normal, but the situation of any manager keeping his job and having the chance to improve and to have the chance to finish his work, that's normal," Mourinho said.

Mourinho says the display against his former club Porto was so much better that it marked a return to form.

"The performance on Wednesday in a high-level, pressure match was so good that I don't see any reason for the players not to have the same kind of answer," Mourinho said.


The Portuguese said much the same after the goalless draw at Tottenham and last Saturday's defeat to Bournemouth - Chelsea's eighth in the Premier League this season - took him by surprise.

After the loss to the Cherries, Mourinho appeared to concede defeat in his side's bid for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, who was Chelsea boss prior to Mourinho's appointment the first time in June 2004, believes the Blues can still finish in the top four. Now Mourinho agrees with him.

"Independent of the Bournemouth defeat, I think in the last couple of months everyone is improving, the team is improving," Mourinho said.

"We are going in a good direction in terms of the level of individuals and the team consistency. We need results.

"Before we lost the last three points against Bournemouth I was absolutely convinced of the fourth position in the table.

"I was convinced of a great December for us. I was miles away from believing we could lose this match.

"Who knows? We could get a run of four or five consecutive victories and because nobody is doing that from the top clubs, maybe we have a chance to shorten distances and to dream of a great finish and to finish fourth.

"While mathematically it's possible we have to try."

Mourinho was glowing in praise for Ranieri and Leicester, who spent the entirety of last season fighting relegation.

The Chelsea manager said: "I think he should win manager of the half term.

"If you can give an award for the first six months of competition, everyone is miles away from him and every club is miles away from what Leicester is doing.

"I said a couple of weeks ago I don't believe they can be champions. Maybe I have to think twice before saying that again.

"One thing is to be top of the league in September after a beautiful start. Another thing is to be top of the league in December. That's a completely different story.

"It would be something magnificent, something to impress the football world, but sometimes these things can happen and why not happen with them?"

Mourinho has a fully-fit squad to choose from at Leicester and Cesc Fabregas could again find himself as a substitute.

Mourinho said he completely trusts the midfielder, despite his under-par showings this term.

"Every minute he's on the pitch the commitment is there, the professionalism is there," Mourinho said.