Jose Mourinho says Chelsea don't need new players for top-four finish
Friday 20 November 2015 22:35, UK
Jose Mourinho says he is confident Chelsea can finish in the top four without making any signings in January.
The Premier League champions go into Saturday's game against Norwich in 16th, already 11 points off fourth-placed Manchester United after seven defeats in 12 games.
But Mourinho says he is grateful for the support shown by the board and owner Roman Abramovich during a haphazard start to Chelsea's title defence and a series of run-ins with the Football Association.
And the Blues boss insists he and his players will now start repaying that faith without the need for reinforcements in the transfer window.
No side has had as few as 11 points at this stage of the season and made the Champions League places, but asked if he thought Chelsea could buck that trend Mourinho said: "Yes.
"I am happy with my players," said Mourinho, who has consistently denied that tension in the dressing-room has contributed to poor results.
"I trust the players. I don't need to clean the dressing room as I heard was written somewhere. And I don't need to ask the club to spend money in January.
"I don't need to clean the dressing room, like I heard was written somewhere. I'm not saying I won't sign (anyone). I'm saying I won't ask the club to do it.
"I don't have the right to do it, in my opinion. I'd be more than happy to be myself and the squad that I have now.
"We put ourselves in a great situation together by being champions, we put ourselves together in this situation in the Premier League, we have to be again together to put it in the right place.
"There is trust and there are reasons for that trust, but obviously the power is in the hands of the owner and the board, and I think in the same way they show us that they trust us it is time also for us to give a positive answer."
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois trained this week and is due back from a knee injury at some stage during December, while Radamel Falcao is also close to returning.
Neither will be available against Norwich, but Mourinho is predicting a strong performance and an upturn in results.
"I think tomorrow [Saturday] we are going to play very well," he said. "With all respect for the unpredictability of football and for our opponents, I think we are going to get a good result.
"The players are playing more than OK, individually and collectively, the results have to come and the next match is always the match I think it's coming, so we are positive."
