Chelsea vs Porto: Carvalho says Jose Mourinho can't live with defeat but will turn around crisis

Former Chelsea centre-back Ricardo Carvalho believes Jose Mourinho is struggling at Stamford Bridge this campaign because he "doesn't know very well how to live with defeat."

The Monaco veteran defender, nevertheless, backs his former boss to turn around the situation and refused to rule out the Blues for the Champions League title ahead of their decisive game against Porto on Wednesday night (9 December).

Mourinho's future at West London has come under increasing scrutiny after the Blues suffered their eighth defeat in 15 Premier League matches against Bournemouth at the weekend, leaving them 14th in the table, 17 points behind leaders Leicester City. Having being also knocked out from the Capital One Cup earlier this season, some reports have claimed that the Portuguese manager could be sacked should the Blues fail to reach the Champions League last 16. They need just a point to progress in their home game against Porto.

Carvalho, who won the tournament alongside the Portuguese boss at Porto before following him to Chelsea and then Real Madrid, said to Cadena Ser: "Mourinho knows what he wants but he doesn't know how to live with defeat."

"He is doing everything in his power to try to win again. Things are not going well but he believes in the potential of the team. He knows they can improve. The problem is that he can't with defeat and that affects him a lot. But he is doing everything to turn around the situation and I'm sure there's nobody better than him to do it."

The Monaco centre-back, nevertheless, believes that the Blues have a slight advantage to go through. If they do he warns that the team have the talent to win the competition.

"The truth is that I do not know who to support because I grew up in Porto and is the club where I spend the longest time of in my career. But then there is Mourinho who I like, and many people who I know well at Chelsea. Chelsea theoretically have the advantage because they play at home and just need a draw, but Porto have an outstanding team. Let's see because these games are decided by small details," he said. "The team have potential. Last year they won (the Premier League and the Capital One Cup) and they have not forgotten how to play. The Premier League will be difficult for them but pay attention, because they can do something in the Champions League."