Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has accused some of his players of betraying him after yet another defeat this season, leaving them hovering close to the relegation zone. 

Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by league leaders Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Monday night, with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez once again on the mark for the Foxes.

Mourinho's comments after the match drew plenty of attention, as he placed the blame for the defeat firmly on the players, saying that he feels as though his work was "betrayed" by a number of them, and that Eden Hazard made the decision to take himself off injured. 

Mourinho admitted that Leicester were the better team for the majority of the game, but stated that his side "conceded two goals that are unacceptable for me. I know one of my best qualities is to read the game for my players, is to read the opponent, is to identify every detail about the opponent [...] they're two goals that are very difficult to accept".

He added that "it's difficult to score goals when you have some players that are not in their best level, and it's obvious and everybody knows that".

"Last season I did some phenomenal work and I brought them to a level that is not their level, and is more than they really are".

The reaction to the comments has been mostly negative, as many begin to speculate that Mourinho has perhaps gone too far on this occasion in publicly admonishing the squad.

Mourinho is turning on his own players. "I feel like my work was betrayed," is some statement, for any manager.

— Daniel Taylor (@DTguardian) December 14, 2015

Despite all the controversy, former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard told Sky Sports that he doesn't believe the Portuguese has lost the dressing room.

He added that while owner Roman Abramovich might be feeling the pressure to sack Mourinho after such a poor run, there would be little benefit from such a move: "What can they gain by getting rid of him now? They're not going to make the top four or the top six, they're not going to get relegated if we're honest. So I'm sure there's a view to say hang on, let's see what happens at the end of the season. Why make rash change now that can't really affect the year that much?".