I can never do what I want, says Mourinho

LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters)Jose Mourinho said he was powerless to improve the situation at injury-hit Chelsea.

''I'm never allowed to do what I want because I'm the manager,'' he told British newspapers after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool. ''I'm not the owner, I'm not the chief executive, I'm not the chairman, I'm just a manager.

''I give my opinion to the club and the club try, if they want, to give me what I think is good for the team.'' Mourinho was without injured defenders John Terry, Khalid Boulahrouz and Wayne Bridge plus Ricardo Carvalho, who was ill, suspended midfielder Claude Makelele and long-term absentee forward Joe Cole at Liverpool.

He said he had told the Chelsea hierarchy last month he needed two new players.

''At the end of December I gave my opinion. I said we needed a central defender and an attacking player,'' said the Portuguese coach.

''I gave my opinion and sometimes the club tries to do the best they can.'' ARRIVAL UNLIKELY Mourinho said it was unlikely the champions would sign anyone before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

''The market is open for another 10 days but it has been open for 20 days and if we didn't already get a player then I don't see why we should get one now,'' he said.

However, Mourinho added that his squad was ready to battle.

''My group is very, very short but mentally strong, we are together ready to fight for the rest of the season,'' he said.

''If we end the (weekend) fixtures with six points difference to Manchester United I'll be very, very happy.'' United hope to capitalise on Chelsea's defeat by winning at Arsenal today and opening a nine-point lead over the champions.

Mourinho has been at the centre of media reports over the past fortnight of tension between him and Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko's poor form fuelled the rumours and the 57 million dollar Ukrainian did little to help lift the tension with an ineffectual 17 minutes as a substitute at Anfield, one of several below-par Chelsea performances.

REUTERS PM KP0918