Jose Mourinho has levelled strong criticism at Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle, among others, for failing to produce performances that trouble his team selection for Saturday.

The Chelsea manager was angry his reserve players did not impose themselves over League Two opponents Shrewsbury and said they were shown up by Didier Drogba’s display.

Salah and Schurrle were handed rare starts, while Nathan Ake, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen also got game time.

Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle failed to impress against League Two side Shrewsbury Town

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was not pleased with Schurrle's (left) display against the League Two outfit

Petr Cech started in goal as first-choice keeper Thibaut Courtois was given the night off

SHREWSBURY TOWN 1-2 CHELSEA Click here to read Laurie Whitwell's match report from Greenhous Meadow Advertisement

Drogba, called the Special Drog by Mourinho, played 90 minutes for a second time in 48 hours and scored the opening goal, causing a menace throughout in the slender 2-1 win.

Mourinho said he was disappointed by certain performers and knew his team to face Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, adding: ‘If players that played 90 minutes two days ago were fantastic, I expect people who are not playing a lot to raise the level to create me problems.

‘I love problems of choices, and it is easy to choose my team for Saturday.’

Asked specifically if Salah and Schurrle had disappointed him, Mourinho replied: ‘Yes.’

Shrewsbury equalised through Andy Mangan before Mourinho made two substitutions immediately, replacing John Obi Mikel with Nemanja Matic and Salah with Willian.

Willian produced the cross that Jermaine Grandison diverted into his own net under pressure from 36-year-old Drogba.

John Obi Mikel played 80 minutes of his side's win before being replaced by Nemanja Matic

Didier Drogba captained his side to victory in the absence of unused substitute John Terry

FIT AS A BUTCHER'S DROG Didier Drogba has scored in each of his last three matches - in three different competitions. He found the net against Maribor in the Champions League, Manchester United in the Premier League and Shrewsbury in the Capital One Cup. Advertisement

‘When you have the possibility of extra time you have to control the emotions as a manager,’ Mourinho said. ‘I had to make two changes to give a new blood and new kind of qualities to the team.’

He added: ‘I was worried when they equalised but we go through and Didier played a massive part in that.

‘Hopefully he will be good for the weekend but we will have to see because right now his character is stronger than his body.

‘Maybe what he has done is through his character – not his body.

‘That’s what makes players special and if I was a kid player and I play with this guy on my side, 18, 19, 21, 22, what can I wish more? For the kids it is a privilege and they have to learn by example.’

Asked whether he was the Special Drog, Mourinho said ‘Yes’ and gave a thumbs up.