Chelsea Give Mourinho Backing  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been told by the club he continues to be the right man to turn the club around.

The future of Mourinho, who returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell at the club in 2013, has been increasingly scrutinised in recent weeks after a poor start to their season.

Sky sources revealed Mourinho held discussions with the Chelsea board following Saturday's shock 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton and although their recent form would have been on the agenda it is believed meetings of this nature are not uncommon, regardless of results.

The champions have begun their Premier League defence with four losses in eight games. They are also third after two matches in their Champions League Group G.

With some newspaper reports suggesting Mourinho's prospects at Chelsea were in doubt, the club released a surprise statement on Monday afternoon to quash any speculation.

It read: "The club wants to make it clear that Jose continues to have our full support.

"As Jose has said himself, results have not been good enough and the team's performances must improve. However, we believe that we have the right manager to turn this season around and that he has the squad with which to do it."

When asked by Sky Sports reporter Greg Whelan for his thoughts on the Southampton defeat, Mourinho spoke for seven minutes that involved a number of accusations and a declaration that the club 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 said last week he was experiencing the "worst period and results" in his managerial career, while Terry - unable to cement a first-team spot this season - jumped to the defence of his boss over the weekend.

The centre-half said: "I have been here a long time and I have seen managers come and go and if anyone is going to get us out of this hole it is going to be Jose Mourinho."