Ramires backs Mourinho

Chelsea F.C. midfielder Ramires has revealed manager Jose Mourinho has every right to criticise his players for the Blues’ dismal start to the season.

At the moment, the reigning English Premier League champions are sitting in 16th-place in the league table, having lost four of their first eight league fixtures of 2015/16.

Mourinho has called out several of the club’s first-team players in recent times, and Ramires believes the Portuguese has every right to do so.

“I think it very normal when we are not playing well and we are losing for the manager to take it out on the players. He needs to get a reaction,” Ramires said.

“Maybe some players are not doing what he expects them to do so that’s why he is on top of us, on top of things, trying to get a reaction because he knows he can get the best out of us.

“So we all need to calm down and we can get out of this.”

The Brazil international added: “I understand perfectly where he is coming from with what he said regarding where, if he didn’t have the confidence of the players he would step aside. But that’s not the case at all. We are all together.

“Maybe it’s a shared guilt because when things don’t got the way that everyone expects people look at the players and the manager.

“But we are all working together to get out of this situation – we want to be at the top of the table. Not the bottom.”

Chelsea, who are currently 10 points behind table-toppers Manchester City, are backed by the bookmakers at 20/1 to win the Premier League title this season.

Amelia signs for Chelsea

Meanwhile, in other news, Chelsea have confirmed the signing of former AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia until the end of the season.

Amelia, 33, joins on a free transfer and will be the Blues’ No. 2 goalkeeper behind Asmir Begovic until Thibaut Courtois returns in December, at the earliest.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Marco Amelia.

“The goalkeeper arrives on a free transfer to provide highly experienced cover following the injury to Thibaut Courtois last month, and has signed a contract until the end of the season.”

Amelia will likely be on the bench for Chelsea when Aston Villa visit Stamford Bridge a week from Saturday.

EPL Betting Odds | Saturday, 17 October 2015 | Chelsea (1/3) v. Aston Villa (21/2); Draw (9/2)