Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has insisted that the club's players are still united in their support of Jose Mourinho and that the manager's record shows that he will turn their fortunes around.
The Blues lost for the fifth time in the league this season with a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday to leave them 15th in the Premier League table with just three wins from their first 10 matches.
Despite the champions' poor start to the season, Cahill says that the players still have full confidence in the Portuguese boss's ability to get the club back on track.
"Of course we back [Mourinho], of course all of the group is behind the manager," the England defender told the Daily Mail.
"But, and I mean this in the most respectful way, he doesn't need to be backed by us. When you have achieved so much in the game and won as many titles, not just in this league - he doesn't need our backing. That speaks for itself.
"You have to respect the fact that he is the manager and everyone has different personalities. There isn't a right or a wrong way to do anything. It's your style and the way you are and the way our manager has been has got him a lot of success.
"If feels he needs to criticise a few players and give a few kicks up the backside, it is down to us to respond in the right way."
Next up for Chelsea is a trip to Stoke City in the League Cup fourth round on Tuesday night.
Tom Nightingale
