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Jose Mourinho: Chelsea manager is ‘not used to losing’
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said losing is a “strange feeling”, after his side’s worst start to a top-flight season in 29 years.
The Premier League champions’ loss to Everton on Saturday was their third in five league games and leaves them 17th.
Mourinho’s team face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“I promise you I am fine,” he said. “I am not happy. I am not used to losing so many times but I am adapting to the situation.”
Ben Smith, BBC sports news correspondent |
|---|
| “Jose Mourinho was sporting a new haircut at today’s press conference and, just like his mood, it was short and spiky. |
| “This was the Chelsea manager at his emotional best. Smiling and laughing at one stage and delivering that famous death stare at others. He was fiercely protective of his players, robust in his defence of his own record and proud to remind the rest of English football that ‘I am a champion’. |
| “Talk is cheap. Chelsea need results. This is their worst start to a top-flight season since 1986, their manager must hope his new haircut will bring a change in form.” |
He added: “You cannot expect me to say it is all smiles, laughing and jokes. When people are not getting success we work for, we are going to be frustrated.
“We know what we are – champions of England. The fans sing that. Nobody can steal what we are or our trophies or our history, you can try but you can’t do that.
“When you are used to winning all the time, then when you don’t it is a strange feeling. Some people deal well with it, others not as good.”
Spiky Mourinho refutes ‘third season syndrome’
In a testy exchange with BBC Sport’s Ben Smith, Mourinho rejected the idea that he is afflicted by so-called ‘third season syndrome’, causing the performances of the teams he has managed to deteriorate in his third season in charge:
Ben Smith: Do you believe that you still have all the qualities that made you such a great manager? A lot has been made of the third season in your time at clubs – what do you say to that?
Jose Mourinho: Look, my third season – in Porto, I didn’t have a third season. My third season in Inter, I didn’t have a third season. My third season at Chelsea the first time, I won the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, and I played the Champions League semi-finals. My third season in Real Madrid, I won the Super Cup, I lost the cup [Copa del Rey] final, and I went to the Champions League semi-finals. These are my third seasons…
BS: Sure, but you know what I’m getting at…
JM: So click Google, instead of making stupid questions, click Google and try to find.
BS: Jose, you know what I’m getting at though, don’t you, how important is it for you to build…
JM: No, you spoke about the third season, and I am telling you that the question is stupid, because the third season is what I told you.
BS: Jose, you know the point of the question…
JM: No, I know the point, the point is that the question is stupid. I am sorry…
[At this point a Chelsea press officer intervenes]
No message behind new do
Mourinho sported a new haircut at his press conference on Tuesday
Mourinho also rebuffed a suggestion from one journalist that his new short haircut was a response to the turmoil at Chelsea.
Asked if there was any correlation between his haircut and his mood, Mourinho replied: “My haircut isn’t as radical as it has been. I am fine, I promise you.”
Pressed further on whether the stress of Chelsea’s poor run had caused his hair to fall out, Mourinho smiled and shook his head.
BBC Sport