Jose Mourinho has thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for publicly backing him following Chelsea's defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend.
The champions suffered their eighth Premier League loss of the current campaign when Glenn Murray's late header secured what Cherries boss Eddie Howe described as the biggest victory in his team's history at Stamford Bridge.
The result left Chelsea languishing in 14th place in the standings - 14 points off fourth-placed Manchester United - and led to further doubts over Mourinho's long-term future at the club.
However, former United manager Ferguson insisted in the aftermath of the defeat the Portuguese tactician has the ability to find a solution to Chelsea's current woes and said he did not see the club's poor form lasting long.
Mourinho has now thanked Ferguson for his words during what he has previously described as the worst period of his career and said he believes the retired manager would not have backed him unless he really meant it.
When asked whether he had seen Ferguson's comments over the weekend, Mourinho said: "I didn't read, I didn't watch. Some people told me and it's a difference between friends and the fake friends and the ones that are honest and show immediately their feelings towards you.
"Sir Alex is my friend and obviously the words are very nice. I believe he's not the kind of person who says it because he likes somebody.
"It's because he's honest and I thank him."
Mourinho's men will be under pressure to produce a reaction to their defeat to Bournemouth when Chelsea welcome Porto to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Blues only need a draw to book their place in the knock-out stages of the competition as group runners-up while a win would see Chelsea top Group G.
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A loss, however, would result in Mourinho's side dropping into the Europa League should Dynamo Kiev beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the group's other game.
