Jose Mourinho’s betrayal rant ‘a slap in the face for Chelsea players’, Shay Given tells talk SPORT

Mourinho pointed the finger of blame at his players following Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Leicester City, saying they did not follow the plan he worked for days to formulate ahead of the crucial clash.

 

The boss, whose future at the club has been the topic of discussion with the club's board over the past 24 hours, said after the game: “My work was betrayed.

"I worked four days on this match. I prepared everything related to the opponent. I identified four movements where they scored almost all their goals. My players got all that information, you can ask them, they are honest guys who will tell you it is true.”

But Given, special guest co-host on Wednesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, believes publicly shaming his squad was the wrong call from the experienced coach.

“I think betrayal is a very strong word,” said the Stoke City glovesman.

“You’re supposed to be in the same camp, together and pulling in the same direction, so to use the word betrayal is a real slap in the face to the players.

“By saying that, he’s effectively washing his hands of the team’s performance, but as the manager he should be doing the opposite and backing his players and sticking up for them.

“If he does feel betrayed, he should have kept it within the four walls of the dressing room, and not brought it out into the media."

It’s been a remarkable change of fortunes for reigning Premier League champions Chelsea, who are now just one point above the relegation zone after Monday’s loss.

The team look a shadow of the side which cantered to the title with relative ease last season, and Given believes the Blues’ fall from grace is the biggest in football history.

He added: “Chelsea are not at it. It doesn’t look like they’re playing for the manager.

“They’ve gone from Premier League champions to a relegation fight. It’s the biggest fall we’ve ever seen in any league in the world.”