Filipe Luis: Former Chelsea defender says Mourinho damages players

Filipe Luis thinks some of Chelsea’s players may have been affected by Mourinho’s public criticism

Filipe Luis thinks Jose Mourinho public criticisms have damaged his players (Getty Images)

Chelsea have been suffering a stuttering start this season and the club’s former left-back Filipe Luis might have an idea why.

The now Atletico Madrid left-back spent the 2014/15 season at Chelsea and has accused Jose Mourinho of damaging his players by criticising them publicly through the media.

Mourinho’s man management skills have been questioned following reports that some of the senior players do not want to play for him.

Mourinho according to reports have fallen out with his players (Chelsea FC/Press Association Images)

Luis thinks some of Chelsea’s players may have been affected by Mourinho’s public criticism.

“He has his way of talking to the press, especially when the team loses, which can sometimes be damaging to certain players,” Luis said in an interview with Yahoo Sports.

“Some players benefit from criticism but for others they don't.

“Sometimes he’s right and sometimes he’s not. Sometimes people think what he says is absurd and sometimes they agree with him. It’s the way he is and the way he works – I see it as normal.”

Luis spent just one season at Chelsea (Getty Images)

Luis returned to Atletico Madrid after he left to sign for Chelsea and failed to feature regularly.

The Brazil international made only 15 Premier League appearances and played second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta for much of the campaign but he sees his time at the club as a ‘triumph’.

“I didn’t have the chance [to play] in the first match of the league season and the opportunity to play in the first game is key for players at a new club – that made everything more difficult,” Luis said.

Filipe Luis is currently with Brazil national team preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers (Reuters)

“I consider my time with Chelsea a personal triumph. In one year I won two titles – one being the Premier League.

“I have a trophy at home that not many people have and in possibly the most competitive league in the world.”