Michael Emenalo, Chelsea Technical Director, Discusses Jose Mourinho's Future

Chelsea remain confident under-fire manager Jose Mourinho can salvage the club's season despite a nightmare start to the defence of their Premier League title. Technical director Michael Emenalo, a close confidante of owner Roman Abramovich, stated the struggling Stamford Bridge club hasn't lost faith in Mourinho.   

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph's Sam Wallace, Emenalo suggested Abramovich is still committed to the man he brought back for a second stint in the dugout in 2013:

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Right now, the statement from the owner and from the board comes from a belief that we are in a position to trust a manager who has delivered so much. We are in a position to trust a group of players who have delivered in the last couple of seasons. We are in a position to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and therein lies our confidence ... that we can get out of the situation.

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Votes of confidence should always come with a hazard warning for any manager—particularly for one who finds himself 16th in the league table with his side 15 points behind leaders Manchester City.

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At the moment, Mourinho is coasting by on reputation. The self-styled "Special One" boasts an enviable track record, one including two UEFA Champions League triumphs and three Premier League titles.

But assuming Chelsea will stage what would be a miracle turnaround simply because of Mourinho's past glories is dangerous thinking. The squad is certainly talented enough, but the games are running out.

Talent aside, the Blues' biggest problem has been the myriad of controversies generated by Mourinho off the pitch. He has been charged twice this season already amid a public war with the English FA. His falling out with team doctors also cast a negative light on the club.

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Interestingly, Emenalo highlighted Chelsea's image as an important consideration moving forward. Wallace wrote: "Emenalo says that it is important to both the club and Abramovich that Chelsea are represented 'with a certain level of responsibility.'”    

That sounds an awful lot like a not-so subtle demand for Mourinho to not only improve results, but stay on his best behaviour while he's doing it.

His history says he's a good bet to get some wins on the board. Unfortunately, that same history says the Portuguese gaffer won't be able to avoid more controversy for long.

Without a significant winning run to compensate, don't rule out Abramovich and Chelsea still deeming Mourinho more trouble than he's worth, despite Emenalo's words.