Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Porto clash in the Champions League is 'a knockout' and he 'was not expecting' defeat by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge

  • Chelsea face Porto next - a loss may see them exit the Champions League
  • Bournemouth defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
  • Chelsea boss Mourinho says he did not expect to lose the match
  • See Champions League news at www.dailymail.co.uk/championsleague

Jose Mourinho's position as Chelsea manager is back in the spotlight and defeat to his former club Porto on Wednesday could mark the end of his second spell at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho was subject of the first managerial vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich's 12-year ownership on October 5 and Abramovich watched part of Saturday's 1-0 loss to Bournemouth with his face in his hands.

The holders are three points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone in 14th place, 15 games into the season, with Mourinho doubting whether a top-four finish is possible.

Jose Mourinho says Chelsea's match with Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday is 'a knockout game'

Jose Mourinho says Chelsea's match with Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday is 'a knockout game'

Chelsea boss Mourinho (second left) said he was not expecting defeat at home by Bournemouth on Saturday

Chelsea boss Mourinho (second left) said he was not expecting defeat at home by Bournemouth on Saturday

Defeat leaves Chelsea three points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone in 14th place

Defeat leaves Chelsea three points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone in 14th place

Mourinho, who signed a four-year deal until June 2019 in August, thought Chelsea had turned a corner in a goalless draw at Tottenham, but now knows the consequences of a second defeat of the season to Porto in Wednesday's final Champions League Group G tie could be stark. 


'It's a knockout game,' Mourinho told Chelsea TV. 'It's a group phase where normally you still play for points.

'But the reality is that it's a knockout. Chelsea or Porto, one will be out. For sure, a big game.'

To extend the boxing analogy, Chelsea and Mourinho are on the ropes and landing few punches in retaliation.

The Portuguese again bemoaned missed opportunities against Bournemouth, who last season won the Championship, but afterwards repeated his claim he would not seek transfer activity in January to improve his squad.

Changes to the playing staff might be imposed from above, though. Mourinho was taken by surprise by a result Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe described as the best in their history.

'I have to be honest and say I was not expecting this result,' Mourinho said. 'The team was in a good moment, working well, playing well. Of course not scoring enough goals.

'We didn't score against Stoke, we didn't against Tottenham. We scored one goal to win the game against Norwich. It's difficult for us to score goals.

'Scoring goals is a lot about individuals. The creation is collective, but the finishing is something very individual and at this moment we're not having that.'

Mourinho said that he needs to see his Chelsea team scoring more goals to improve their form

Mourinho said that he needs to see his Chelsea team scoring more goals to improve their form

Steven Fletcher (right) scored the decisive goal for Bournemouth in the victory at Stamford Bridge

Steven Fletcher (right) scored the decisive goal for Bournemouth in the victory at Stamford Bridge

Mourinho said that Chelsea lost the match 'exactly at the moment where we were the strongest team'

Mourinho said that Chelsea lost the match 'exactly at the moment where we were the strongest team'

Mourinho had cause for complaint when the ball hit Simon Francis' hand in the Bournemouth box and Glenn Murray's decisive goal had a hint of offside about it, with the Blues boss ruing his side's luck.

'We lost the game exactly at the moment where we were the strongest team, in our strongest period,' he added.

'We were really unlucky, especially to concede a goal when we don't deserve. In the second half we did more than enough to score and to win.'