Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho: I Will Not Run Away From Bad Results; Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Facing Three-Month Lay-Off

Jose Mourinho has no intention of quitting Chelsea and is confident his team will turn things around

Jose Mourinho has dismissed any parallels between 2007 and now, insisting he has the desire and determination to lead Chelsea out of their current malaise. The Blues won the 2014-15 Barclays Premier League title at a canter, but have four points from four games and sit eight points behind leaders Manchester City ahead of Saturday's match at Everton, who frustrated Mourinho in his pursuit of John Stones. With the Toffees sticking to England defender Stones, Chelsea had to turn to other players, like the unheralded Papy Djilobodji, prompting speculation Mourinho was unhappy just weeks after signing a four-year contract.

Mourinho had a categorical response for those thinking his second spell at Stamford Bridge could unravel and end as quickly as the first.

"Let's be objective. I don't want to leave the club, in any circumstances," the Portuguese said. "And the club doesn't want me to leave. I'm not going to walk away. The club is not going to sack me. If somebody anyone thinks that I walk, or I leave the job, it's somebody that doesn't know. Chelsea fans know me for good and for bad and that's not my profile, to run away from problems, in this case to run away from bad results."

The Press Association report continues:

The similarities to 2007 are startling in some commentators' eyes, but Mourinho then had the desire to work in Italy and Spain, where he had success with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Now the 52-year-old, who returned to Chelsea in June 2013, has only ambitions with the Blues.

He also pointedly suggested Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich knows it is unlikely he will find a better boss than himself, after experiencing numerous managerial changes in his 12-year tenure.

"When I was here in 2007, I had two things in my mind - go to Spain and go to Italy," he added. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here. That's enough. Mr Abramovich in 2007, in his football life, if you can say that, he knows only two managers - (Claudio) Ranieri and myself. In this moment, he knows, how many? Ten? He knows a lot of them. He knows a lot of them. I repeat - I stay until Mr Abramovich wants. A few weeks ago (I had) a contract that expired in two years' time. And he gave me a contract that expires in four years' time. We have one problem. We are not getting the results we always expect to get. That's our problem."

Mourinho, though, is optimistic positive results are near.

"I'm not happy and I'm happy that I'm not happy," he added. "I work harder than ever. I'm optimistic, I trust the players. I repeat, the players trust me. It's not such a hard situation because you feel that better results will arrive. We are going to leave this situation, for sure."

Chelsea's Belgium international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is facing a stint on the sidelines

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be out of action for around three months after undergoing surgery on his right knee. The 23-year-old Belgium goalkeeper tore the meniscus of his right knee in training and is likely to be out until December, Press Association Sport understands.

A statement from Chelsea read: "Thibaut Courtois underwent surgery yesterday (Thursday) on an avulsion of the posterior corner and medial part of the internal meniscus of his right knee.

"The successful surgery consisted of a reattachment of the meniscus by suturing."

The operation is understood to have taken place in Spain.

Courtois suffered the injury on Wednesday in circumstances boss Jose Mourinho was not familiar with, as it happened during a goalkeeper-specific session.

The Blues boss was braced for the bad news, indicating Courtois would be out for "quite a long time" prior to the exact prognosis being revealed.

The Barclays Premier League champions will first be without the Belgium goalkeeper for Saturday's match at Everton, but Asmir Begovic will be required to deputize for some time to come.

"Courtois was injured in a training session with the goalkeepers and I cannot tell you much, but I can tell you that he needs surgery in his right knee," Mourinho said earlier on Friday.

"As a consequence of that he will be out for quite a long time. I cannot be at this moment more specific about the injury or the time he will be out."

It is another blow for the Blues, who have four points from their opening four games and sit eight points behind leaders Manchester City.

Begovic played in the loss at City after Courtois was sent off in the season opener with Swansea and the Bosnian has Mourinho's confidence.

"It's a big blow, but you will not see me next week speaking again about Thibaut, because I never do when a player is injured," added Mourinho, who will have Jamal Blackman on the bench. It's not easy to have the best goalkeeper in the world injured. But it's easy to have one of the best goalkeepers in the world to play. And we have Begovic to play."

Oscar remains out with a knee injury, but could return to contention for next Wednesday's Champions League campaign opener at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv or the following Saturday against Arsenal.

"Almost there," said Mourinho on the Brazil playmaker.

Mourinho declined to discuss Chelsea's transfer window activity, where Everton rebuffed offers for defender John Stones.

"The transfer window is closed. I have no more comments. I have nothing to say," Mourinho said. What (Everton boss Roberto) Martinez says for me means nothing. I don't comment. John Stones, I expect him to play tomorrow with (Phil) Jagielka, because it's the normal two central defenders that play for Everton."

Asked if he would shake hands with Martinez at Goodison Park, Mourinho said: "You think that's important? I don't think it's important."

Instead of Stones, Chelsea signed Papy Djilobodji on a recommendation.

Mourinho said: "It was not my choice. It was the choice of somebody I trust completely. I don't know every player. My job doesn't allow me to travel, doesn't allow me to spend hours and hours watching players. And in some moments of the market, under certain circumstances are moments where you have to trust or not the people that you work with. In my case I trust, because the same person that told me that Djilobodji can be a good squad player for us, was the same person who told me (about Kurt) Zouma."

Mourinho remains optimistic despite Chelsea's stuttering start to the season, which saw Crystal Palace inflict defeat last time out.

"We are in a title race," Mourinho said.
"In every match we played better than the result. Circumstances of the match gave us results worse than the performance. So I'm positive."