John Terry Speaks out on Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea Dressing Room

John Terry has given his full and unequivocal backing to under-fire Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after the Blues collapsed to another Premier League defeat on Saturday to Southampton. 

The captain maintained the Special One is still "the best manager" for the club and called on his team-mates to pull themselves together, per Chelsea's official website:

"

We find ourselves in it and it is down to the group of players and the manager to get ourselves out of it and we must do that very soon. Generally I think we are looking low on confidence but we have a big group of players in that dressing room and we need to stand up, which we will do. There is no difference from last season. 

We need to be hungry like we were. Like many teams find, it is difficult to come back after winning the Premier League, we have seen it with Man City. We are suffering a bit of late but we have big characters in the dressing room and we will remain together along with the manager and get ourselves out of this.

"

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Terry returned to the starting lineup on Saturday in the 3-1 defeat, leading the side out at Stamford Bridge, but his usual defensive powers have certainly deserted him.

The back four looked vulnerable throughout the game as Southampton continually counter-attacked, with Mourinho irate in his technical area, clearly aggrieved by the performance of his men. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

The 34-year-old skipper was in tremendous form throughout the Premier League-winning campaign of 2014-15, appearing 49 times in the Premier League and Europe, according to WhoScored.com. What is more amazing is Terry started every one of those appearances, showing extraordinary fitness to remain involved.

However, his legs have aged quickly, and Mourinho has noted this by dropping the centre-back. Terry's leadership skills have been missed on the pitch, but the game against Southampton proved his days in the starting XI are coming to an end.

ESPN's Paul Carr highlighted just how much of a crisis this current slump is to Chelsea:

What Chelsea do in the coming months is a mystery; their form looks damaged beyond repair, with a major overhaul of the playing squad needed in January.

Terry's public support is expected for a manager he has always been loyal to, but if the Chelsea defender isn't picked in future weeks, their relationship will naturally deteriorate. 

Chelsea have the international break to re-evaluate their thoughts and ambitions for the coming year, but a simple top-four finish will not be acceptable to owner Roman Abramovich.