José Mourinho has claimed he is lonely and “living in a different world” following criticism and mounting pressure after Chelsea’s torrid start to the defence of their Premier League campaign.
Chelsea, with three league wins and four defeats from their opening nine league matches, currently sit 12th in the table and following defeat to Southampton earlier this month Mourinho was given a public vote of confidence from Roman Abramovich and the club’s board.
It represents unprecedented pressure for Mourinho at Chelsea, despite delivering a third Premier League title last season, and the Portuguese believes modern football’s shortsightedness is to blame.
“I live in a different world. I’m not with the power. I’m not with the power. I’m a lonely guy in this modern world of football,” Mourinho told the Irish Times.
“I do my work. I’m not a politician, I’m not a PR, I don’t care what people think about me. I don’t, you know, I’m just what I am. When I am in a great moment it looks like nothing’s happened; when I am in a bad moment, I pay for this a little bit. I don’t have many friends in the football world.”
Mourinho also questioned the ever-increasing role of pundits and accused the British media of a “culture of the vulture”.
“Some of them [pundits] are really brave,” he added. “To criticise someone with my history, you need to be brave, as there is a risk someone like myself will say: ‘Shut up. You’ve won nothing in your life.’
“But I won’t do that. I just work and hope that the good results are coming. You know, stability for the manager, in general, it’s gone. It’s gone for everyone, except a couple of ‘special ones.’”