Chelsea's target now top six, says Jose Mourinho after Bournemouth loss
Sunday 6 December 2015 11:28, UK
Jose Mourinho says Chelsea have to downgrade their aspirations to finishing in the top six after their shock defeat by Bournemouth.
The defending champions were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge with Glenn Murray's late goal securing victory for the Cherries.
The result leaves Chelsea languishing in the bottom half of the table, 14 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and three points off the relegation zone.
"Before this game I think it was fair to think and feel that with our quality and by winning three or four matches in a row we could push up to the kind of position where I was expecting to be," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"But this defeat leaves us in a position that means now we maybe have to think about top six. I am concerned. I was concerned before this game because I am not happy with the position.
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"Obviously Chelsea will never be fighting for relegation, no chance, we will win matches and we will get out of this area, that's not the problem. Our problem is that our objective is to finish top four.
I am concerned...We will win matches and we will get out of this area, that's not the problem, our problem is that our objective is to finish top four.
"We are in it together, no doubt. But if you analyse matches you can identify a few players where it is difficult for them to be consistent.
"You think there is an evolution but the next day you realise it's not evolution it was just an individual moment, and to get results you have to be consistent and we are not because of some individuals."
Under-fire striker Diego Costa again started on the bench for Chelsea but was unable to make an impact after being introduced at half-time.
However, Mourinho felt his side should have had a penalty when Costa's cross appeared to hit Simon Francis' arm. He was also critical of Bournemouth's tactics to hold onto their lead.
"With five minutes to go the team that was defending was being, what some people would call, intelligent and some would say is lack of fair play," he added.
"Time-outs, stopping the game, asking for the medical team to go on, drinks for a minute…They were more than ready for basketball and they did it very well.
"The referee also made an important mistake but that's part of the game...It is a clear penalty, clear handball."
Asked about his plans to turn Chelsea's fortunes around, Mourinho said: "I only know one way to fix it, which is to work and give my maximum every day and every match.
"If a player is not capable of giving maximum every day and every match, then the collective pays, but I feel strong as ever.
"I cannot laugh because I am not happy, I cannot cry because it's not my profile. I can just work and that is what I am going to do to try to get a result on Wednesday [at home to Porto] to get through to the next round of the Champions League."
