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Jose Mourinho has admitted his criticism of Chelsea's home support may have gone too far but was an emotional response tied to his affection for the club.
The Blues boss felt like Chelsea were playing in an "empty stadium" for the first half hour of last Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over QPR.
Supporters have responded in varying degrees of anger, bemusement and frustration - as well as agreement - to Mourinho's jibe.
"This is not, for me, just a job. It it more than that, because it's Chelsea," said Mourinho, who was speaking ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League Group G clash at Maribor.
"Maybe I go a little bit too far. But I see myself in the stands, watching Chelsea and I want to play, I want to help.
"If I'm not a player I cannot play, if I'm not a coach I cannot make decisions.
"If I'm just a fan what can I do to help? That's just my view.
"Everybody at Chelsea Football Club knows how much I love the club, how much I want it to improve and how much I want to be part of the club in the future.
"Even a moment of criticism has to be analysed with different eyes, with the eyes of somebody who knows why I came back to Chelsea and why I'm here with my heart and why I want to stay for a long, long time."
