‘He was nicer when Chelsea beat us 6-3!’

From Back Page coach, abruptly interrupted. ‘Roberto, next time you tell me [to] go before you because we have to travel,’ Mourinho scowled. Martinez tried to reply: ‘We don’t control that, Jose. I don’t control that.’ But Mourinho was in no mood to listen and fired back: ‘F****** hell!’ As Mourinho burst through the door, Martinez wryly observed: ‘When he beat us 6-3 [last season] he was such a nice man. I prefer him like that!’ After giving a short, terse conference, Mourinho scurried off without speaking to the daily publications and it summed up exactly how the afternoon had gone for the Portuguese. Before kick-off, Mourinho walked out on a television interview with BT Sport after he had been asked about Chelsea’s failed pursuit of Everton defender John Stones. Ray Stubbs was in the middle of asking: ‘Everton fans will remind you that you couldn’t sign John Stones, do you think that adds an extra dimension?’ But Mourinho, whose problems are mounting, walked off screen, saying: ‘Before the game, this is too long. This is too long, I’m sorry.’ Meanwhile, Tim Rolls, chair of the Chelsea Supporters Trust, says Mourinho still has the backing of the club’s fans and hierarchy, and does not expect a backlash against the manager. Asked if Chelsea fans still loved Mourinho as much as ever and wanted him to continue, Rolls said: ‘Absolutely — you can look at social media and find one or two hot-heads, but most people know Mourinho is as good as it gets. ‘We are only five games into the season and I wouldn’t say it is a crisis. There are just problems that need sorting, and I’m confident Mourinho will do that. ‘I think most supporters are fully behind him. ‘It is important to maintain a sense of perspective, and I can’t see any scenario in which anti-Mourinho chants would start from Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge or at away games. ‘I don’t think he is under pressure, other than that he is putting himself under.’