Mourinho Meets Chelsea Board  (Sky Sports)

Jose Mourinho held discussions with members of the Chelsea board after their shock 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton, according to Sky sources.

Saturday's loss at Stamford Bridge was the champions' fourth in eight Premier League games, with a defiant Mourinho saying he would only walk out on the club if the players didn't back him.

With Chelsea's title chances in serious doubt and their latest Champions League campaign stuttering with a midweek defeat by Porto, their recent form was no doubt on the agenda for Saturday's meeting between Mourinho and his club's board members.

Sky sources have confirmed the meeting took place after the Stamford Bridge defeat, and despite some reports suggesting Mourinho's future was on the line, it is believed discussions of this nature are not uncommon regardless of results.

After asking Mourinho for his opinion on the performance against Southampton, Sky Sports reporter Greg Whelan would not have expected a response that lasted for seven minutes.

Among a string of accusations and explanations he said Chelsea would have to "sack the best manager in their history" to get him to leave.

"People can say what they want. I think you should go straight to the players," said Mourinho, who has received the public backing of John Terry.

"Get a table at Cobham next week - John Terry doesn't go to the national team, Diego Costa doesn't go, Ramires doesn't go. Ask them.

"If they tell you they don't trust me, that is the only thing that can make me resign. The only thing. But not fake sources. The players at the table."

Mourinho also claimed he was enjoying some aspects of what he has called the worst run of his managerial career.

"It makes me understand how big a guy I am," he added. "I am not afraid. I'm not crying, I'm not desperate. It makes me realise how big I was, how big I am.

"When you win and you win titles and you are champion, life is easy. It's easy to be proud. It's easy to be what you are. In this moment it's not so easy and my feelings - I'm so unhappy with the sport feeling of defeat but I am so happy with myself with the way I am facing this."