Mourinho: I hope board want me to stay

Jose Mourinho said he hoped Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich continues to stand by him after his team’s latest defeat – their ninth in the Premier League this season.

A 2-1 loss at Leicester left the struggling champions just two places and one point above the relegation zone and is bound to increase speculation about Mourinho’s position as manager.

“The question (about his future) is always the same,” Mourinho said. “The only thing I can say is that I want to be the manager.

“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 Mr Abramovich and the board want me to stay, because I want to stay.”

The defensive shortcomings which have plagued Chelsea this season were evident again at the King Power Stadium and they also lacked a cutting edge up front.

Mourinho declared that he felt “betrayed” by yet another below-par display and added: “They were goals that I cannot accept. I don’t understand how we can concede these goals.

“It is also clear it is difficult for us to score goals. Why? Because the players whose job it is to score goals aren’t.”