Jose Mourinho claims he “cannot promise” a top four finish for Chelsea this season after a disappointing start to the 2015-16 campaign.
Under the guidance of the Portuguese manager, the Blues won the Premier League comfortably last season. Things have not gone as expected for him as the west London club have struggled in all competitions this season.
Chelsea were eliminated from the fourth round of the Capital One Cup earlier this week to Stoke City on penalties. They have only three wins from 10 matches in the league and are 15th in the league table with 11 points, nine points behind fourth place Manchester United.
When asked if the Stamford Bridge outfit could qualify for next season’s Champions League, Mourinho said: “I cannot promise. 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.”
Manchester United failed to qualify for European competition last season, while a poor campaign last season has forced Liverpool to settle for the Europa League this term. Mourinho hopes if Chelsea fail to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next term, his side will still be one of the big clubs in England.
“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, and won nothing, and they are still a monster club. That is football,” Chelsea manager explained.
Chelsea will host Liverpool in the Premier League clash on Saturday. The Reds’ new manager Jurgen Klopp will be looking for his first three points the league after registering his first win as the manager of the Merseyside club against Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup.
A defeat to Liverpool will further mount pressure on Mourinho and Chelsea. It will also raise concerns over the former Real Madrid manager’s future at Stamford Bridge after a poor start to the ongoing season.
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