Chelsea release statement to say Jose Mourinho 'has their full support'

The Premier League champions' title defence has not gone to plan so far, with the Londoners sat 16th in the table after eight games with just eight points.

[LEVENE: Why Mourinho's ruthless dictatorship may prove his undoing]

They've already lost four games, including two at home - once upon a time, Chelsea were invincible under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

Compounding matters is the spat between Mourinho and then-club doctor Eva Carneiro on the opening day, and the Portuguese coach's epic rant after their latest failure at home to Southampton.

The statement from the club says:

The statement from Chelsea comes two days after Mourinho issued a challenge to his employers following the Southampton defeat.

In a seven-minute answer to one question, Mourinho said "if the club wants to sack me they have to sack me because I am not running away from my responsibilities from my team."

He continued: "I think this is a crucial moment in the history of this club. Why? Because if the club sacks me they sack the best manager this club has had and secondly the message is again the message of bad results the manager is guilty.

"And this is the message not just these players but the ones before got during a decade. I think this a moment for everyone to assume their responsibilities. I think the players should and other people in the club who should assume their responsibilities, and to stick together and this is what I want. The players will play until the end of this season."

Well, it's really difficult to view this as a positive development for Mourinho's status at the club.

History dictates that these statements - also known as 'the dreaded vote of confidence' - are little more than a thinly-veiled 'warning shot' from the club to the manager struggling to get results. "Any more of this, and you're out" is generally the way these public displays of backing turn out - and very few coaches last much longer afterwards.

Roman Abramovich has already sacked Mourinho once before, this despite it being clear that Mourinho is a manager who can deliver success to any club he takes charge at. And as our Chelsea expert Dan Levene explained, the most reassuring thing for Jose during this horrific start to the season was Abramovich's silence on the matter. Now the club has mandated this statement, things aren't so reassuring.

Still, Mourinho will probably collect the biggest ever severance package in football history if he goes - provided he is indeed sacked, and doesn't quit.

[MORE: Mourinho: There's only one thing that would make me resign from Chelsea]