Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho says his side "are not happy" with the start they have
made to the new Premier League season - but has backed his players to begin
their Champions League campaign with a win.
The Premier League champions have endured a wretched start to the season,
with Saturday's 3-1 reverse at Everton their third loss from their opening
five matches.
Mourinho has seen his side win only once so far - a 3-2 victory at West
Bromwich Albion - and faces a huge challenge to peg back current league
leaders Manchester City even at this earlier stage. City currently sit 11
points in front of Chelsea.
But ahead of Chelsea's Champions League Group G opener with Maccabi
Tel-Aviv, Mourinho is optimistic his players can put their Premier League
troubles to one side and kick-off their challenge for European football's
biggest prize with a win.
"It's a new competition with all four teams starting with zero points. To
start at home is important," he said.
Mourinho added: "You have just to go back three months and three months ago
we were the best team in the country, the best manager and the best players.
We are not happy, but we know what we are," he said.
"We start so bad. (But) it's not because of that that somebody can steal
what we are.
"Nobody can steal what we are, nobody can steal our trophies, nobody can
steal our history. We know what we are: champions of England."
Mourinho also believes Chelsea's critics are looking for problems which are
not there.
"It's so simple to accept that the results are not good because that's
football," he said.
"It's so easy to connect that with football, injuries, bad luck, bad
moments. It's so easy to do that that it's quite sad many people try to find
problems where problems don't exist.
"Our problem would be if problems are real, but in fact the only problem we
have is not getting good results."
Mourinho said unhappy faces at Chelsea's Cobham training is natural after
the run of results they have endured.
"You cannot expect we are all smiles, laughing and jokes," he said.
"When people are not getting the success that you work for, people are
obviously frustrated and not happy.
"Confidence levels... especially people who are used to winning all the
time. When you don't, it's a strange feeling.
"I promise you we are working. When we say business as usual, it's true.
With one difference: we are not happy."
Mourinho revealed new signing Baba Rahman would make his Chelsea debut
against the Israelis, while midfielder Oscar would also feature at Stamford
Bridge on Wednesday night.
He also confirmed forward Radamel Falcao would miss the match with an
unspecified injury.
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