‘They don’t fear us’ at Stamford Bridge, worries Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho

Nonetheless, says Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, as 'somebody will be out' of the Premier League top four, 'do I think it's Chelsea? No.'

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho shown during a press conference on Friday ahead of their Saturday Premier League contest. Tony O'Brien / Action Images / Reuters / October 16, 2015

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho acknowledges the harrowing prospect that, in addition to his team's loss of form their fumbling Premier League title defence, opponents simply aren't much bothered at the prospect of visiting Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa, mired in a string of poor results of their own, will be plenty motivated in their Saturday visit to Chelsea, and the Portuguese admits playing at the champions’ home is less daunting than it once was.

Read more: Will things get better for Chelsea against Villa? Thomas Woods thinks so in his Premier League predictions

“I really believe that every team that comes now to Stamford Bridge, they don’t fear us, they feel that they can get a result,” Mourinho said.

Nevertheless, the Chelsea manager maintains his side will reverse the current decline and surge back into the top four.

The competition in the Premier League means Chelsea could miss out on the top four this term, as Manchester United and Liverpool have done in recent seasons.

The club are seven points adrift and 10 behind leaders Manchester City.

“Somebody will be out. Do I think it’s Chelsea? No,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho lost one of 100 Premier League home games, but has now lost two in his last three after a 3-1 home defeat to Southampton on October 3.

But Mourinho says he will not be sacked even if Chelsea are adrift in the race for the top four.

Asked if he would still be in charge if Chelsea finish in mid-table, Mourinho said “Yes”, before adding: “No. I was not told that because we don’t expect to finish mid-table.”

Following that Southampton loss, Mourinho, who has won three Premier League titles over two spells, suggested Chelsea would be sacking the best manager they ever had if he was fired.

Now Abramovich’s approach to his managers is different, according to the Portuguese, who was reappointed in June 2013.

“It’s different for many reasons, since the moment I came back in 2013, when I had my first conversation with the owner and the board in 2013,” he said.

The team enter Saturday’s match at home to Aston Villa placed 16th after four defeats in the opening eight Premier League games.

Mourinho called for the backing of the Chelsea board after the October 3 loss to Southampton and a first vote of confidence of Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership was issued.

Meanwhile he says he will appeal against the Football Association’s £50,000 (Dh283,500) fine and one-match suspended stadium ban.

Mourinho was sanctioned for comments made following the October 3 loss to Southampton in which he said referee Robert Madeley was “afraid” to give Chelsea a penalty.

Mourinho on Friday confirmed he had received the FA’s written reasons and will appeal.

“I have to be honest with myself. It’s the most important thing so I have to appeal,” Mourinho said.

Mourinho on Thursday night addressed the penalty, which was announced by the FA on Wednesday.

“Every word I say is a big risk for me,” he said on Thursday.

“I am happy that I don’t have an electronic tag. I think it’s not far.

“I also think that GBP50,000 in the world where we live today is an absolute disgrace.

“And I also think that the possibility of getting a stadium ban is also something absolutely astonishing.”

The stadium ban will be imposed if Mourinho speaks out of turn in the next 12 months, but it is understood the FA is unlikely to pursue Thursday night’s comments.

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