Wednesday 28 October 2015 15:18, UK
Jose Mourinho has leapt to the defence of his players following Chelsea's exit from the Capital One Cup and says suggestions that the squad are no longer behind him show a "lack of respect".
The holders looked set to come back from the brink in the fourth-round clash with Stoke after Loic Remy's late equaliser cancelled out Jon Walters' strike.
But despite Stoke being reduced to 10 men, Chelsea could not grab a winner in extra time and eventually lost 5-4 on penalties as Jack Butland saved from Eden Hazard.
The loss means the Blues have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions and adds to the growing pressure on Mourinho.
There have been reports that this weekend's clash with Liverpool could be crucial for his future while some have questioned whether the players are behind him.
But he was defiant in defeat, saying: "You honestly think the players are not with me? You think they didn't give everything to win the game? That's really sad, it's not sad for me, it's sad for the players.
"It's a lack of respect to the players, not to me, for me it would be a fantastic situation if the players are against me, then I can say, 'We aren't getting the results because the players are against me'.
"What some people write and say is really bad for the players, my players tried everything. I don't want to speak about last Saturday [against West Ham], but if anyone saw the second half, with 10 men, then they will see [what is written] is a lack of respect for the players."
Talk had already been rife before this tie about the sack looming for Mourinho, whose Premier League champions were left 15th in the table by Saturday's 2-1 loss at West Ham, in which he was sent to the stands.
But the Portuguese boss - who has subsequently been hit by another misconduct charge from the Football Association over events at Upton Park, and had not spoken publicly since that match - said following the Stoke contest: "My general situation is fantastic.
"I have a day off tomorrow, a fantastic family. I can sleep well every night. I'm going to enjoy my day and Thursday. It will be one more day like I have had in the last 15 years of my life - honest and dedicated.
Pushed further over whether he had had any more reassurances since the weekend about his job, he said: "I don't need more."
Mourinho refused to blame Hazard over the penalty miss that proved decisive and said there was plenty in Chelsea's performance that meant their players would leave feeling positive.
He added: "He [Hazard] is our best penalty taker but the last thing I do is to blame. If I have to blame someone it is the ones who tell the manager I don't want to take it and run away.
"It is more difficult when you play very bad and lose than when you play well and lose. I think they [Chelsea's players] go with sadness but with a positive feeling.
"How can they go home with lack of confidence? Lack of confidence, why? They played well."
