‘Betrayed’ Mourinho turns on Chelsea players after loss

FILE – Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.
AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK / AFP / GLYN KIRK

LEICESTER, England — Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho turned on his players after the team’s latest loss in its dreadful Premier League title defense, saying Monday he felt “betrayed” and accusing them of not trying their best.

“If I was a player, I’d be giving a lot more,” Mourinho said after a 2-1 loss to surprise leader Leicester that left Chelsea one point off the relegation zone after 16 games.

Chelsea, which won the Premier League by eight points and with three games to spare last season, has lost nine games so far and is 20 points off the lead.

“All last season I did a phenomenal work and I brought them to a level that is not their level, it is more than they really are,” said Mourinho, who appeared at a loss to explain Chelsea’s regression.

“I feel my work was betrayed,” he added as he criticized the defending for Leicester’s goals.

Asked if Chelsea can still qualify for the Champions League, Mourinho said: “We can’t finish top four, but we can still finish top six because so many teams are dropping points. But at the moment we’re in a zone where I feel ashamed.”

Even before the Leicester loss, Mourinho acknowledged he is in the toughest spell of his managerial career.

“The only thing I can say is that I want to be the manager,” Mourinho said. “I have no doubts and I think you know me well enough to know that I am not afraid of a big challenge and in this moment it is a really big challenge.

“I want to stay and I hope (Chelsea owner) Mr. (Roman) Abramovich and the board want me to stay.”