Jose Mourinho: I haven’t earned transfer cash

Jose Mourinho says Chelsea’s miserable Premier League title defence means he has no right to demand transfer activity in January — but he would accept a superstar signing.

Mourinho maintains Chelsea will reach the top four and qualify for the Champions League, but it would take an unprecedented run after three wins and seven losses in the 12 games so far. He accepts that woeful start hasn’t earned him the right to reinforcements.

Mourinho, who received support from Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo yesterday, said: “I will not ask any change to the board for January. I don’t need to clean the dressing room, like I heard was written somewhere. And I don’t need to ask the club to spend money in January.”

Mourinho insisted Chelsea may still be active in the winter transfer market, but not at his behest. “I’m not saying I won’t sign (anyone). I’m saying I won’t ask the club to do it,” he said.

“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. I am happy with my players, I trust the players.”

Asked what he meant by not having the “right”, he said: “Because our performance during the season in the Premier League is not good enough.

“If I ask for players, or if the club gives me a handful of players, it’s like taking the responsibility (away from) us and saying we need extra to reach our objectives. I want to have the responsibility in my hands, I want the players to have the responsibility.

“I want the players to feel that I trust them and that I don’t need other players to reach the objectives. I think we should go together, me and the players. I hope everybody stays and nobody comes.”

Asked if he would accept the arrival of a superstar, Mourinho said: “Of course, yes, but not because I’m not happy, not because I don’t trust my players, not because I think only a superstar will help us to reach our objectives.

“I always look at players. But, in the last week, if every name connected to us was true, we’d have to build another training centre because there are already 126 (players linked).”

Mourinho was the subject of the first managerial vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership on October 5. The caveat of the board’s support was results must improve, but Chelsea have won just twice in seven games since.

Emenalo reiterated the club’s support for Mourinho in interviews yesterday.

“Nothing that went public is something that I didn’t know before,” added Mourinho, who signed a new contract until June 2019 in August.

“Nobody gives a four-year contract four months ago if they don’t trust the person.

“There is trust and there are reasons for that trust.”

Mourinho returns to the dugout today, having served a stadium ban in the defeat by Stoke. “It’s over, let’s forget it.”