Chelsea's players made their critics look "stupid" despite their Capital One Cup exit at Stoke, says Jose Mourinho.
The Blues boss claimed their display in the penalty shootout defeat, after a 1-1 draw, was enough to rubbish claims his players were not playing for him.
"What the players did tonight is face the people that write and say, 'you are stupid'," said 52-year-old Mourinho.
"You think the players did not give everything to win the game? That is really sad."
Holders Chelsea were beaten 5-4 on penalties in the fourth-round tie after forcing extra-time through Loic Remy's injury-time equaliser.
Mourinho faced the media after the match for the first time since Friday, having refused to speak after Saturday's 2-1 defeat by West Ham and ahead of Tuesday's cup tie.
'My players tried everything'
Mourinho is facing more disciplinary action by the Football Association after being sent to the stands at half-time of the West Ham defeat.
The Blues went on to suffer their fifth Premier League defeat in 10 matches this season at the Boleyn Ground.
But Mourinho, who also received a suspended stadium ban earlier this season, says any claims that his players have been affected by his behaviour show a "lack of respect" to his team.
"For me it would be a fantastic situation if the players are against me, I can say, you don't have results because the players are against me," he said.
"What some people write and say is really bad for the players. Most of the people that do that used to be players.
"I think they think my players are like them when they were players. Maybe they were able to do that. My players tried everything."
(BBC)
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