Jose
Mourinho has described Chelsea's poor start to the Premier League season as
"the worst period" in his career.
The champions currently occupy 14th spot after taking just eight points from
their opening seven Premier League matches.
The Blues followed up last weekend's 2-2 draw away at Newcastle with a
midweek Champions League defeat to Porto and Mourinho has said the start to
the season represents the worst results of his managerial career.
"I define it as the worst period of my career, with the worst results in my
career," he said.
"I get it as a fantastic experience - an experience that I don't want to
repeat - I want to finish tomorrow and win some matches again.
"I think it comes too late, to come after 15 years. It should have come
after two, three or four years, but it's something that is helping me to be
better, a great experience.
"I call it a great negative experience.
"It is not the hardest challenge, but it's the worst results. I had big
challenges all the time. I've never lost so many matches. That's a fact.
"I like to be under pressure when top of the league with the second team one
point behind. I don't like where we are but I cope well with it. I want the
next match - I want to play."
The Chelsea boss also insisted that he did not find it difficult to leave
John Terry out of the side and was happy to hear the Blues fans sing in
support of the skipper after he was not selected against Porto.
"Fans can sing and I'm happy they sing and I'm happy they support John,"
Mourinho added.
"He's ready every game to play, even the ones I leave him on the bench, he's
ready to play."
Mourinho, who was speaking ahead of his side's home fixture against
Southampton, said there is good communication within the squad and insisted
the players who made big mistakes against Porto know what they did and it
has already been discussed.
He reacted angrily to suggestions in the morning newspapers that his players
were unhappy with his methods.
He said: "In here we speak openly. We criticise people without any kind of
problems and no prima donnas crying. I don't have prima donnas.
"When you make a mistake you have to speak about it. You know what I call
that in football? Coaching.
"If the coach cannot coach, go to a newspaper where nobody criticises
anybody. Not all newspapers I believe, but one especially."
Despite his shaky start to the season, Mourinho is adamant that Branislav
Ivanovic is his best right back and revealed the pair have discussed some of
the mistakes the defender has made during the campaign.
"Ivanovic likes to speak with me and about his mistakes," Mourinho said. "He
is not crying, he is not a prima donna. I am critical with him and speak
with him about what he has to improve.
"I have no doubts he is my best right back and no doubts he has to improve
in some aspects of his game this season. Simple as that."
The Blues boss also refused to comment on the Dr Eva Carneiro issue, but did
say that his time to speak "would arrive".
"For the past two months I didn't open my mouth and I am going to keep it
like that. One day I will speak and I will choose a day," he said.
"I am quiet about it for a long time. I read, I listen and watch and am
quiet. My time to speak will arrive when I
decide."
Mourinho also confirmed that the club are looking into the possibility of
bringing another goalkeeper into the squad as cover, with Italian Marco
Amelia training with the team.
"We will try. We have in this moment Marco Amelia working with us for a
couple of days," he said.
"He is an experienced keeper. He knows what a big club is and the
responsibility. He has played Champions League and the national team.
"We need some stability until Courtois is back. Maybe he can give us that."
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