Under pressure Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists he has no fear of getting axed even if the Blues doesn’t finish in the top four.
Chelsea are hosting Aston Villa at home today, hobbling in the 16th position after four defeats in eight matches. After the Southampton loss, Mourinho got the first vote of confidence from club owner Roman Abramovich after pleading support of the Chelsea board.
As a matter of fact, Chelsea have tried a hand with numerous managers in the past, whenever Champions League qualification is under threat.
Mourinho now claims he will remain as club’s favourite manager even though Chelsea are ousted from the race for the top four finish.
When reporters asked if he would still be the Blues boss if Chelsea ends the season in the middle of the table, Mourinho replied “Yes,” then added: “No. I was not told that because we don’t expect to finish mid-table.”
Following the last league defeat, the Portuguese manager, who brought three Premier League titles in Stamford Bridge, confidently said the Blues would be sacking the best possible manager they ever appointed if he was axed.
Now the approach of Abramovich’s to the managers is different from the past as stated by the Portuguese, whose second spell with Chelsea started in June 2013.
He revealed, “It’s different for many reasons, since the moment I came back in 2013 when I had my first conversation with the owner and the board in 2013.”
The Blues are now seven points adrift and 10 points behind the league leaders Manchester City. Mourinho confidently answers, “Somebody will be out (of the top four). Do I think it’s Chelsea? No,”
The Portuguese boss claims he intentionally revealed the possibility of his sacking in a live television interview to counter the questions coming. But now Mourinho throws the twist, whether he was really concerned or not, had been appeased back then.
He reveals the statement was issued to “close your mouth.”
“For me the important thing is the owner and the board’s message to myself,” Mourinho said. “Before the statement came out, I was having the feedback from the owner and the board. So the statement was not something new for me.
He is so confident ahead of the important clash, “I met the owner before dinner so, when I went to dinner, I knew. But even before that, I knew what brought me here. I know the conversation we had two years ago.
“I know what made me sign a new contract, and the reasons why the owner and the board decided to give me a new contract. They didn’t have to. I had still two more years, so they didn’t have to give me a new contract.”