Under-fire Jose Mourinho: I will only resign as Chelsea boss if the players don’t back me

Jose Mourinho insists he will only quit as Chelsea manager if he loses the support of the dressing room.

The Blues boss is under severe pressure with his side sitting 16th in the Premier League following Saturday's defeat at home to Southampton.

The 3-1 reverse at Stamford Bridge was Chelsea's fourth defeat in eight games, and led to claims of crisis talks between Mourinho and Roman Abramovich over the weekend.

But Mourinho, who delivered an astonishing rant after the loss to Southampton, says he will only leave his post if the players no longer back him.

"People can say what they want. I think you should go straight to the players," Mourinho said.

"If they tell you they don't trust me, (that) is the only thing that can make me resign. The only thing."

Thankfully for Mourinho, he does appear to retain the full support of the Chelsea dressing room despite speculation of a fall-out with senior stars.

John Terry is one of those said to have clashed with the Portuguese in recent weeks, but the captain himself insists there are no factions within the club.

"We have a big group of players and we have the best manager who we remain behind and we remain together," Terry told chelseafc.com.

"That is what you do in tough circumstances. I have been here a long time and I have seen managers come and go and if anyone is going to get us out of this hole it is going to be Jose Mourinho.

"And the players will remain together and fight, and keep fighting."