Jose Mourinho has revealed he had to resort to scare tactics after Chelsea’s surprise loss at Newcastle United last Saturday.
The Blues were comprehensively outplayed by Alan Pardew’s struggling Magpies in a 2-0 defeat as the west London side’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an shuddering end at St James’ Park.
Mourinho, who sealed a return to Stamford Bridge in June, launched a scathing critique of his team’s performance after Chelsea slipped five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
And the Blues boss admitted it was the first time some of his Chelsea players had been confronted with the darker side of the “Happy One” – but hopes his squad can learn from the defeat.
Asked whether it was the first time he had got “scary” since signing a four-year deal in the summer, Mourinho replied: “Yes… because the defeat against Newcastle was a consequence of what football can be.
“You never know when you’re going to lose or when you are going to win. The defeat against Basel was also a very strange one. My feeling against Necastle was not good from the first minute.
“Yes, for the new ones and the ones that I work with for the first time, maybe it was the first time they felt me really. I don’t want to be scary, I just want to influence their mentality.
“I just want to make them stronger, tougher, more professional have more ambition and not to hide behind a couple of good results.
“A couple of good results has to motivate you to search for the next one. My objective is not to scare but just to make them strong.
“If they have the right mentality which they showed against Schalke, I will make them stronger.”