In a tense press conference punctuated by one-word answers, the Portuguese boss confessed that there was no guarantee of his club shaking off the funk and reaching the summit.
After a dreadful start to the season, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he cannot guarantee the club Champions League football next term.
A League Cup defeat to Stoke City midweek has only increased the pressure on the former Real Madrid boss, with Chelsea rooted in the bottom half of the table.
With another tough clash against Liverpool on the horizon, Mourinho admitted that a top-four finish could be out of reach.