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Jose Mourinho has warned his Chelsea stars he will ‘ruthlessly’ ditch them all and replace them with kids if they cannot challenge for trophies, writes Dave Kidd in Oporto.

With his Premier League champions 14th in the table after winning just two of their first seven games, the Special One chose the eve of his return to Porto to issue his frankest assessment yet of the dismal start to their title defence.

And the Blues' boss, who faces the club he first won the Champions League with 11 years ago in a group game here in Portugal on Tuesday, is adamant that he will AXE players with bad attitudes.

Mourinho said: “If the season goes in one direction, that it becomes closed and we can’t win [trophies], I will go just with the kids.

"It makes no sense, when you have nothing to win, to play the older players.

Chelsea train before flying out to Portugal:

"I’ll play the players we’re waiting for instead. I can arrive in a moment where I will look to the kids and say, ‘Let’s go. Non-stop.’ I am ruthless.

"But at the moment everything is open.

“It’s difficult to win the Premier League, but possible. It’s difficult to win the Champions League, but possible. It’s difficult to win the [domestic] cups, but possible."

Chelsea dropped more points in their most recent league game, having to come from two goals down to grab a draw at Newcastle. They are already eight points behind leaders Manchester United.

In pictures — Chelsea fight back from 2-0 down to draw with Newcastle:

“I explained to the players that when the situation is open I have to do both things: To try to prepare the kids for their future and at the same time to try to bring the best out of the other players — the players with more stability and experience.

“Our problem is we are not performing in a continuous way.

(Image: Alex Livesey)

"We have no problems physically or tactically. It’s the same - as when we make changes they improve the team.

“Clearly it’s an attitude perspective of some individuals. And when you have individuals with that unstable attitude in terms of motivation, desire and commitment, you will pay.”

Probable teams

Porto Casillas; Maxi Pereira, Marcano, Maicon, Layun; Ruben Neves, Imbula; Corona, Andre, Brahimi; Aboubakar.

Chelsea Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa.