Jose Mourinho blasts Chelsea critics as 'stupid' if they think he has lost players' trust

Mourinho says Chelsea performance proves he hasn't lost the dressing room

(Reuters)

Jose Mourinho says critics of the club are 'stupid' if they believe his first-team players are not playing for the Chelsea manager.

The Blues were dumped out of the League Cup after a penalty defeat at Stoke City but Chelsea put in an excellent performace - it was down to the brilliance of Jack Butland, who made four great saves as well a saving Eden Hazard's penalty, that Chelsea were knocked out.

In the build-up to the game there have been various reports that Mourinho has lost the Chelsea dressing room in recent weeks, despite the likes of John Terry, Gary Cahill, Ramires, Hazard and Diego Costa publicly backing the Portuguese.

"What some people write and say is really bad for the players," said Mourinho.

"What the players did tonight is face some people that write and speak, and said: 'You are stupid'.

"Maybe they think my players are like them when they were players. My players don't do that, they tried everything.

"If anyone saw the second half the other day, playing with 10 men the way they did, it's a lack of respect for the players."

The 52-year-old believed his team deserved more from the match and the defeat had left his players frustrated.

"It's difficult," he added. "It's more difficult when you play bad & lose than play well and lose. We go with sadness but a positive feeling.

"We played so well. This first half could finish the game at half-time. Then second half, goal, and they keep going.

"A few months ago I won a few matches and I was champion. People were saying there are things more important than results. Now, people say results are the most important thing. It's a contradiction."