Mourinho asks for supporters’ understanding

Jose Mourinho has asked for Chelsea supporters’ understanding after saying the Stamford Bridge home crowd is among the worst in the Premier League.

Mourinho felt like Chelsea were playing in an “empty stadium” for the first half hour of last Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Queens Park Rangers, and later said the situation is “getting worse”.

Jose Mourinho admits he may have gone too far with his criticism © Getty Images

Supporters have responded in varying degrees of anger, bemusement and frustration to Mourinho’s jibe, while some are even in agreement.

“This is not, for me, just a job. It it more than that, because it’s Chelsea,” said Mourinho, who was speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League Group G clash at Maribor.

“Maybe I go a little bit too far. But I see myself in the stands, watching Chelsea and I want to play, I want to help.

“If I’m not a player I cannot play, if I’m not a coach I cannot make decisions. If I’m just a fan what can I do to help? That’s just my view.

“Everybody at Chelsea Football Club knows how much I love the club, how much I want it to improve and how much I want to be part of the club in the future.

“Even a moment of criticism has to be analysed with different eyes, with the eyes of somebody who knows why I came back to Chelsea and why I’m here with my heart and why I want to stay for a long, long time.”

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