Chelsea FC: Are these the ex-Blues players Jose Mourinho is so angry at?
Jose Mourinho hit back at some of his critics after Chelsea's League Cup exit on Tuesday.
The holders were knocked out of the competition by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, losing on penalties, and the Portuguese manager was present at this post-match press conference, telling the press that his players gave their all.
"What some people write and say is really bad for the players," Mourinho said.
"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 [against West Ham], playing with 10 men the way they did, it's a lack of respect for the players."
"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."
The Portuguese boss was clearly unhappy with former Chelsea players and pundits giving their critical opinion on his stewardship of the club.
Here, talkSPORT looks at what some of the Blues' former employees have been saying and asks, are these the ex-Chelsea players Mourinho is unhappy with?
Tony Cascarino
Fractured relationships within the current Blues squad are completely unprecedented, former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino told the talkSPORT Drive show.
Cascarino, who spent two years at Stamford Bridge as a player between 1992-94, also believes Roman Abramovich is not far from ending the Portuguese's association with the club: “If history has taught us anything, it’s that Roman has sacked people for a lot less. It’s a strange one because Abramovich is doing something he’s never done - he’s never supported a manager. If he ever felt that they were losing games he got rid of them, so this is a first."
Craig Burley
Earlier in the month, former Blues and Scotland midfielder Craig Burley told the Sports Bar how he would have replaced Mourinho with Jurgen Klopp, before he took over at Liverpool, also criticising the 52-year-old's decision making. "Managers can get bad results, but Mourinho has to have a look at himself in terms of the way he handles things. It is not everyone else's fault all the time."
But not all past Chelsea players are against Jose, as you can see a number of ex-Blues offering their backing to the Portuguese, below.
Carlo Cudicini
In a talkSPORT exclusive, former Blues goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show that Mourinho is still the right man for the job, saying: "He is a manager with great experience and they have players with great experience so I am sure they will be able to turn it around."
Frank Lampard
That is according to Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer, Frank Lampard, who was speaking after collecting an OBE at Buckingham Palace. The former England midfielder was full of praise for his former boss, who allowed him to leave after the expiration of his contract in 2014.
Mark Hughes
Mourinho has the 'kNowledge' and 'understanding' to address the crisis at Stamford Bridge, according to ex-Chelsea striker Hughes, who was speaking before his Stoke side knocked Mourinho's men out of the League Cup: "He says it himself - he's a top manager and he's the best manager Chelsea have ever had, so why would they change?"
Gianfranco Zola
Legendary striker Gianfranco Zola has spoke of his surprise at Chelsea's poor form, but offered his support to Mourinho by saying the manager is a winner and his relationship with the club is a 'good marriage, adding it is key that everyone at Chelsea sticks together.
John Terry
Chelsea captain John Terry, who was subbed by Mourinho at half-time and subsuquently dropped earlier this season, said: "We've still got the best manager in the world."