• Mourinho says he does not have many friends in modern game • Chelsea manager also criticises ‘culture of the vulture’ in England

José Mourinho has claimed he is lonely and “living in a different world” following criticism and mounting pressure after Chelsea’s torrid start to the defence of their Premier League campaign.

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Chelsea, with three league wins and four defeats from their opening nine league matches, currently sit 12th in the table and following defeat to Southampton earlier this month Mourinho was given a public vote of confidence from Roman Abramovich and the club’s board.

It represents unprecedented pressure for Mourinho at Chelsea, despite delivering a third Premier League title last season, and the Portuguese believes modern football’s shortsightedness is to blame.

“I live in a different world. I’m not with the power. I’m not with the power. I’m a lonely guy in this modern world of football,” Mourinho told the Irish Times.

“I do my work. I’m not a politician, I’m not a PR, I don’t care what people think about me. I don’t, you know, I’m just what I am. When I am in a great moment it looks like nothing’s happened; when I am in a bad moment, I pay for this a little bit. I don’t have many friends in the football world.”

Mourinho also questioned the ever-increasing role of pundits and accused the British media of a “culture of the vulture”.

“Some of them [pundits] are really brave,” he added. “To criticise someone with my history, you need to be brave, as there is a risk someone like myself will say: ‘Shut up. You’ve won nothing in your life.’

“But I won’t do that. I just work and hope that the good results are coming. You know, stability for the manager, in general, it’s gone. It’s gone for everyone, except a couple of ‘special ones.’”