Jose Mourinho has hit out at ‘the rats’ who are destabilising Chelsea’s season as they prepare for the clash with Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Chelsea manager refused to name his team ahead of the fixture against Ronald Koeman’s side as they search for the winning formula again.

Mourinho said: 'I don't tell you the team. Maybe you have some sources who can give you some tips. We trained tactically yesterday and today, so I'm sure you have some rats who can tell you what is going on.

Jose Mourinho told journalists at a press conference to use their 'rats' to find out Chelsea's line-up

Mourinho said there were no prima donnas in his squad and established players could taking being benched

'I was told by my assistant who stayed in London and didn't travel, Chris Jones, that on Tuesday they worked fantastically well. That was the first reaction.

'They could have stayed here and not shown motivation but, because they knew they could be selected for the next match, they worked very hard and well on the Tuesday.

'It's not easy to do that when the team is playing and you're not with them, but they found that motivation. So fantastic.

'Then, in the last few days, normal business, working well. With me, everyone is working well.’

Mourinho said all his players want to do well and they accept criticisms from himself and their team-mates

The Chelsea boss said that Branislav Ivanovic 'has to improve in some aspects of his game... Simple as that'

Despite the rat problem, Mourinho praised his players maturity following another disappointing performance against Porto on Tuesday.

'In here we speak openly. You did that, you could to that, you could help your mate, I did that mistake but you could do a bit better to compensate for my mistake.

'We communicate openly. No prima donnas crying. Everyone wants to do well and accepts the criticisms, knows the job and knows what let the team down. Nobody wants to do that, but that's the reality.'

Mourinho also defended struggling Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, saying the Serbian was still his best right-back.

'Well, that's something I speak about with Ivanovic. Ivanovic likes to speak with me, and Ivanovic likes to speak with me about his mistakes, and is not crying.

'He's not crying, he's not a prima donna, and I'm critical with him. We speak about what he has to do to try and improve.

'I have no doubts he is my best right-back, and that he has to improve in some aspects of his game this season. Simple as that.'