Faith in Jose

Chelsea: Statement of support
for Jose Mourinho taken at face
value
"You have doubtless heard the stat that no
side have made it into the Champions League
places from having eight points after eight
games, yet it overlooks two things: there were
no title holders among that selection, and
Mourinho has never closed a completed
campaign anywhere lower than third."
Michael Lintorn

Even though votes of confidence in football
are considered so insincere that they are
universally prefixed with the word "dreaded",
Jose Mourinho is perceived to have seen his
position at Stamford Bridge strengthened by
Chelsea's public backing.
The Blues released an unconventionally
laconic-yet-informal statement on their
website on Monday headed "Club believes in
manager and squad" (imagine the dismay of
the in-house SEO guys), in which they referred
to the coach who has won them three Premier
League titles simply as "Jose".
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."
The communication was noticeably light on
promises and targets. The "he has the squad"
part suggests that a hectic January to
compensate for a static summer isn't currently
on the agenda, while there was no mention of
what the revised aspirations for the campaign
are.
Mourinho's own perspective is that "to be
champions now is very difficult because the
distance is considerable, but I am more than
convinced that we will finish in the top four
and, when the season is so bad, if you finish in
the top four, it is okay".
The media are reporting that the Portuguese
controversy magnet has been told that he
must deliver that to keep his job, and punters
still expect them do it at Betfair Sportsbook
odds of 4/6.
You have doubtless heard the stat that no side
have made it into the Champions League
places from having eight points after eight
games, yet it overlooks two things: there were
no title holders among that selection, and
Mourinho has never closed a completed
campaign anywhere lower than third.
Additionally, Chelsea's calm public contribution
has proven enough to save Mourinho from
"Next Premier League Manager to Leave Post"
favouritism following the departures of Dick
Advocaat at Sunderland and Brendan Rodgers
at Liverpool.
The two-time Champions League winner is 3/1
to be the third boss binned, a price which puts
him in between Newcastle tactician Steve
McClaren at 7/4 and Aston Villa chief Tim
Sherwood at 7/1.