Jose Mourinho, John Terry Hit out in Chelsea Presser After Revolt Allegations

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and club captain John Terry responded bullishly to allegations that there is a revolt among the players ahead of their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday.

After a loss to Liverpool on Saturday, an unnamed Blues player was quoted by BBC Radio 5 Live as saying he would “rather lose than win” with Mourinho in charge. But as noted by Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC, Terry, alongside his manager for the press conference on Tuesday, was adamant that wasn’t the case:

Mourinho, by comparison refused to be drawn on the matter quite as strongly, but he insisted it’s a claim which has left him a little disheartened, per Delaney:

According to Delaney, Chelsea are annoyed at the manner in which this story has been reported, suggesting the widespread coverage of a quote from an unnamed source “falls well below journalistic standards.”

It’s the kind of story which will continue to surface should results fail to improve. After all, following the tepid recent showings turned in by Chelsea, especially the 3-1 surrender against the Reds at the weekend, it’s easy to extrapolate that this is a group of players who are disillusioned and simply not willing to play for the current regime.

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As noted by Sky News’ Paul Kelso, Terry suggested nothing was further from the truth when it comes to the players' support of the manager:

Mourinho reiterated he has full faith in the players turning things around too and also claimed a bad spell in what is an otherwise stellar managerial career was inevitable, per Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror:

"

The players are giving their best every minute of every training session, giving solidarity between all of us. [The problems are a] combination of factors and some of them I can’t, I don’t want, to touch them. ...

A friend sent me some quotes of my press conference after the CL final in May 2004. I said that one day my career bad results will come. In my career the bad results will come and I will face the bad results with the same honesty and dignity that I’m facing now as Euro champion.

I’ve been waiting 11 years for this. It took time, but came in a moment where I am stable and I am strong to face it.

"

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The Portuguese also insisted he was feeling "stable and strong" despite the poor run of form, which has seen Chelsea lose six of their last 11 league games, per audioBoom:

Mourinho was asked whether or not he had met with owner Roman Abramovich, but he declined to answer, while when quizzed on how long he may have left in the job, his response was snappy, per Delaney:

After revealing Radamel Falcao will be out of action “for a few weeks” with injury, Terry took over for the second half of the presser and was very forthright in his responses. The captain has been one of many senior players who have failed to produce the same standards as last season.

Indeed, Terry was quick to insist that it’s the players, not the manager, who are responsible for this slump in form, per Murtagh:

"

He’s under pressure because [of] the way we are performing. Once we step over the white line it’s out of his hands. We know we need to be better. 

As an individual he will front you guys and accept responsibility after games. We are prepared to fight and anyone who has seen our results will have seen that.

"

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Terry was also asked about the club’s Player of the Year Eden Hazard. That’s after Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail recently reported the Belgium international is fed up with the “politics and criticism” that accompany Mourinho and is considering a move to Real Madrid.

However, Terry insisted it’s important Chelsea keep both player and manager at the club, per Delaney:

The amount of criticism that has come the Blues’ way was also brought up by the assembled press, with plenty sticking their boot in on the club during this time of crisis.

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Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were both critical of Mourinho and his players on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football earlier this week, per Jack Bezants of the MailOnline. Terry insisted he doesn’t mind taking criticism from those sorts of figures, but he drew the line at BT Sport’s Robbie Savage, per the Guardian (h/t Tom Adams of Eurosport):

"

Full Terry quote on Savage is amazing. From @guardian_sport pic.twitter.com/PwC785ReOy

— Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) November 3, 2015"

The clash with Kiev is an important one for the Blues. They’re currently on four points from their three Champions League games and, aside from a decent display against Maccabi Tel Avi, have underwhelmed in Europe, just as they’ve done in the league. The visitors are a capable outfit and will sense an opportunity to grab three points.

Terry and Mourinho certainly presented a united front in the press conference, with the former unwavering in his backing of the manager. Nevertheless, the showings on the field will be a much clearer indicator of how behind the manager these players truly are.