Jose Mourinho says Chelsea are unhappy after their miserable start to the season, but pointed to recent reminders of the squad's calibre.
The Premier League champions are seeking a much-needed boost in Wednesday’s Champions League Group G clash with Maccabi Tel-Aviv after one win in the opening five league games this term.
“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,” said Mourinho, whose side lost 3-1 at Everton last Saturday.
“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 thinks people 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.”
Reports of sour faces at Chelsea’s Surrey training base is natural after results, Mourinho said.
All Smiles
“You cannot expect we are all smiles, laughing and jokes,” the Portuguese added.
“When people is not getting the success that you work for people are obviously frustrated and not happy.
“Confidence levels... especially people 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 sported a close cropped hairstyle and during his first spell he said he was ready for battle with a military-style cut.
“It was more radical than this one,” he said.
Mourinho remains confident of an about-turn in fortunes.
“I’m not adapting to losing. I’m adapting to the situation,” he said.
On the contest with Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which comes in the week Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, he said: “A very big result is three points.”
Tension
Mourinho said his players are not in dispute with one another.
“If it happens sometimes I don’t think it is a drama, but we didn’t arrive in the situation,” he added.
Mourinho last month signed a four-year contract extension after repeatedly stating his wish to manage Chelsea for some time.
He bristled when it was suggested he had an issue at staying with clubs for the longer term, countering the suggestion his third season was when everything went wrong.
“Look, my third season in Porto I didn’t have a third season,” Mourinho added.
"My third season in Inter, I didn't have a third season. My third season at Chelsea the first time I won the FA Cup and the Carling Cup and I played the Champions League semi-finals.
"My third season in Real Madrid I won the Super Cup, I lost the cup final and went to the Champions League semi-finals.
“Click Google instead of asking stupid questions.”
Asked about building a dynasty, Mourinho said: “It’s the first time I’m going to do that, so I don’t have experience in that.”
Chelsea will be without striker Radamel Falcao due to a minor niggle, Mourinho said, but playmaker Oscar is available again and the manager plans to make changes, despite anticipating debate.
“I can make changes,” Mourinho said.
“I know the consequence of that. If I make a couple of changes in my team, instead of you saying he has a squad, he has more options, he’s looking for a new dynamic, he wants to give some chances, I know what you are going to say.
"If I leave out Azpilicueta, it's because I have a problem with Azpilicueta. If I leave out John Terry, it's because I have a problem with John Terry. If I leave out Fabregas, it's because I have a problem with Fabregas.
“I cannot be worried about what you say, what you write.
“Yes, I’m going to make a couple of changes because I have to try a couple of different faces.”
