Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he is "ashamed" to be in such a disappointing position in the English Premier League.
The Blues suffered their 9th defeat of the campaign as they went down 2-1 away at Leicester City.
And the Portuguese - who is determined to continue as club manager - has urged his players to work hard to at least finish in the top six.
"I accept we are in the relegation zone but I don't accept we are in a relegation battle," Mourinho is quoted as saying by the BBC.
"You look at the table and we are there but you think you are in a relegation battle if you think you are there for three or four months. I don't think that.
"To turn things around, I know only one way - working at the top level.
"Day by day in training I have no complaints with [players]. But it is frustrating to see what they are doing in training and what they do in matches.
"We can't finish top four, but we can still finish top six because so many teams are dropping points. At the moment we are in a zone where I feel ashamed.
"[But] the only thing I can say is that I want to be the manager.
"I have no doubts and I think you know me well enough to know that I am not afraid of a big challenge and in this moment it is a really big challenge.
"I want to stay and I hope Mr Roman Abramovich and the board want me to stay because I want to stay."
