Chelsea routinely benefit from less support at Stamford Bridge than their visitors according to Jose Mourinho – who says the club's home atmosphere is getting worse.
In a series of highly controversial comments after Blues' 2-1 win over QPR in Saturday's west London derby, the Portuguese manager again criticised home support – while refusing to be drawn on reasons for the slump in atmosphere.
The comments go even further than those he came out with a year ago, when he said the team's lukewarm reception at home was down to the 'profile' of fans.
It was Mourinho himself who first raised the issue during his post-match press conference on Saturday, saying: “I took 30 minutes to realise the stadium was not empty. I only realised that when the crowd came alive when we scored.”
He then further riffed upon the subject with broadcast journalists, resulting in the quotes that made headlines on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
But he went even further when speaking to the newspaper journalists who write Monday's back pages, and that conversation is repeated unedited and in full here.
Reporter: “You spoke last season a few times of the crowd being not as up-for-it as others, and you mentioned it there (in the press conference). Do you think you'll ever get a crowd that really roars from the start and tries to make this an intimidating ground? Is that never going to happen at Stamford bridge?”
Mourinho: “I think it’s getting worse.”
Reporter: “Really?”
Mourinho : “I think so. Comparing to my previous time, I think it’s getting worse. I don’t question the passion and the love - I’m nobody to question that and I know clearly that’s not true.
"Because Chelsea fans, they show us every day their passion for this club. But there is a certain line of living (way of behaving) at the matches at Stamford Bridge, where I can clearly say that we are the team that gets less support in home matches.”
Reporter: “Is that complacency?They come expecting to see the win, and they think it will be easy?”
Mourinho: “I don’t know. And I will always love them and respect them, but I don't know.”
Reporter: “Is that, as Roy Keane says, too many prawn sandwiches?”
Mourinho (wryly): “I’m not here to sell books.”
Reporter: “There is a feeling in the country that the more money you pay for a ticket, any ground in the country, you are going to expect to be entertained. That's been something that's happened across the last 20 years all over football.”
Mourinho: “OK.”
Reporter: “Maybe it's more corporate fans than what you might call real fans?”
Mourinho: “I don’t know.”
Reporter: “Would you like to see people maybe coming in for £10 tickets? Cheaper tickets?”
Mourinho (agitated, shakes head): “I don’t know.”
At this point the Chelsea press officer ends the discussion.
The issue has already proved a major discussion point and you can have your say by tweeting @BluesChronicle or commenting here. We will then publish a selection of your views.
