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LONDON. — Jose Mourinho admits Chelsea’s hopes of defending their English Premier League soccer title have all but disappeared. The 3-1 home defeat to Southampton left Mourinho’s side in 16th place and trailing leaders Manchester City by 10 points just eight games into the new campaign.

The defeat increased the pressure on the Blues manager, who insists he has no intention of walking away from Stamford Bridge.

But Mourinho admitted that he risked the sack after a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on Saturday left the Premier League champions 10 points off the pace.

“If the club wants to sack me, they have to sack me, because I am not running away,” Mourinho told Sky Sports in an extraordinary post-match interview at Stamford Bridge.

“It is a crucial moment in the history of this club because if the club sacks me, they sack the best manager this club had and the message is bad results and the manager is guilty. This is a moment for people to assume their responsibilities. I assume my responsibility and the players should assume theirs too.

“There are other people at the club who should assume their responsibilities and stick together.”

But the Portuguese conceded his side’s most realistic target for the season is now to finish in the top four – with top spot already looking beyond them – and called for stability as the club goes through its most difficult spell in years.

Mourinho said: “Three months ago we were on the bus showing off the cups so I think it is time for all of us to be together now at the bottom of the league.

“And I think in December, January, February we are top four. To be champions would be very, very difficult.” — AFP.