Jose Mourinho admits he cannot promise Chelsea a top four finish

Jose Mourinho refused to promise that Chelsea will finish in the top 4

While critics have relentlessly pelted criticism Chelsea’s way owing to their horrendous start to this season, the club’s manager is expected to stand up for the team and defend their hopes to reach the top of the table. Jose Mourinho, however, has refused to promise a top four position, as The Guardian reported.

The reigning English champions host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this weekend, hoping to improve upon the poor showing they’ve had so far. The Blues currently sit 15^th in the Premier League standings and they face a 9^th placed Liverpool. But by no means does that diminish the importance of the tie.

Jurgen Klopp is still on the hunt for his first Premier League win and getting it at Stamford Bridge, formerly a fortress that 2 sides have already breached this season, would be an incredible boost for the German manager’s reign at the Merseyside club. Jose Mourinho will be equally motivated if not more to clinch the 3 points as his job may depend on it if reports are to be believed.

When the Portuguese manager faced the media ahead of the tie, he was asked about Chelsea’s chances of finishing the season in the top four and he had a simple answer to it, he said, “I cannot promise”.

Mourinho has been adamant that his side will make a comeback from their slump, and few have doubted they will. This, seemed like the first time the manager cast any doubt on Chelsea’s chances to reach the top this season.

Pushed further on the meeting of Chelsea and Liverpool who’re both placed low on the table, the Chelsea boss said: “Chelsea is a big club. It’s the club I chose to come to. A club I live in a very specific way, with respect. Liverpool is a big club. Man United is a super big club.

“Last season Liverpool won nothing and didn’t qualify for the Champions League, and they are still a big club. Two years ago United didn’t qualify for the Champions League, not even the Europa League, and won nothing, and they are still a monster club. That is football.”

While the manager is right in pointing out that the current standing of the clubs hardly diminishes the importance of the fixture, he fails to highlight the need for both teams to get a good result from it. It could be the platform they’ve both been waiting to launch their seasons from.