Jose Mourinho has revealed the real reason as to why he sold so many of his Chelsea squad, after implying that the players were not willing to fight for a starting berth.

Players such as Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle have all left Stamford Bridge since Mourinho took charge and speaking to The Sun, the Portuguese manager suggested that the players weren't prepared to work for their chance.

Mourinho said: "The last thing I would ever promise to a player I am trying to sign is that if they come here they will play. I always tell them the reality of things.

"The players we have had in the past were good enough for Chelsea, but we sold them because they didn't want to stay and compete for a place.

"Ask any of them that left – Lukaku, De Bruyne, Schurrle, Salah – and if they are honest they will say it's because they don't want real competition."