Jose Mourinho insists he cannot make any promise that Chelsea will recover to qualify for the Champions League this season.
The Portuguese coach also warned, according to recent history, being a top club cannot guarantee anyone a berth in the top club competition of Europe.
It’s quite understandable; the Blues will have to create history to make it to theChampions league after suffering five defeats in the opening 10 league matches.
Chelsea’s disastrous start to the title defence this season has left them hobbling in the 15th position having only 11 points ahead of this weekend’s much-awaited showdown with Liverpool.
History says, No one has fought back to finish fourth while having less than 13 points at this stage of the season. However, the Portuguese manager is quite convinced his boys will apparently turn the corner but he can’t promise Champions League qualification.
“I cannot promise (we will qualify for the Champions League).
“Chelsea is a big club. It’s the club I chose to come to. A club I live in a very specific way, with respect. Liverpool is a big club
“Man United is a super big club.
“Last season Liverpool won nothing and didn’t qualify for the Champions League, and they are still a big club. Two years ago United didn’t qualify for the Champions League, not even the Europa League, won nothing, and they are still a monster club. That is football.”
However, Mourinho refused to be involved in any criticism regarding his star player Eden Hazard, although the Belgian missed a crucial penalty which knocked out Chelsea from the Capital One Cup after a penalty shootout against Stoke City
“I think it’s not because he missed an important penalty that I’m going to be critical,” he added. “He tried everything in the last game, had a positive game, and played for two hours. I’m pleased with his performance.
“I’m happy with his performance against Stoke. I was happy with his performance against Dynamo Kiev. Before that, he was on the bench a couple of matches, obviously because I was not happy and I felt it was the best thing for him, but I’m happy with his positive reaction to that.”
When asked in the pre-match press conference if Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given any assurances over his job, Mourinho, who last August penned four-year contract extension until 2019 June, declined to comment anything: “I don’t have to tell you.”