Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea’s fighting spirit will see them oppose the odds to bounce back into the top four of the Premier League.
The reigning champions are lingering in lowly 15th this season, closer to relegation than their habitual Champions League spot.
Plenty of questions have been asked as to Mourinho’s future at the club and where the Blues will end the season.
But the Blues boss has no qualms that his side will grapple their way back to their positional home at the top of the league.
“No. We don't stop. We think we can do it. We think we can. I think we can,” he said.
“Of course there's a space in the top four. Everyone felt that two years ago when United were doing so bad. Last season when Liverpool were doing so bad. And everyone feels it this season when Chelsea are doing so bad.
“When one of the traditional top four is doing bad, it's a window of opportunity for the others which motivates them. For sure.”
The Blues awful start to the season has come as a huge shock for many after they won the 2014/15 Premier League title.
A decline of such drastic proportions has caused more confusion than concern, with the Stamford Bridge side retaining all their stars including Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
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But Mourinho has challenged his charges to rally together in order to retain their league champions status, despite all the odds.
He said: “Well, I prefer to say that we have to play every match as if we are fighting for the title.
“But the reality is we need points, the same way we needed points last season when we were top of the table and fighting to be champions.
“At this moment we are far, far even from the European positions. We have to play every game with ambition, with determination.
“Every point between now and the end of the season can make a difference. We've lost so many already, now we have to fight even more.”
