Mourinho slams 'fake news' after all-time XI with eight Chelsea stars went viral

The Special One has enjoyed a glittering managerial career comprising two spells as Chelsea boss and stints at Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Mourinho, who is currently head coach at Serie A side Roma, is set to appear on The Obi One podcast, run by his former Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel.

The media outlet posted an image of Mourinho's 'all-time XI' on Tuesday, which was quickly shared far and wide.

It contained eight Chelsea legends alongside ex-Real Madrid duo Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo, plus former Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti.

But the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, has seen been deleted and Mourinho took to Instagram to rubbish it as 'fake news'.

Read more on Chelsea

Moises Caicedo explains why he picked Chelsea over Liverpool in transfer tug of war

Ratcliffe met Souness to discuss turning Chelsea into Madrid but asked: 'Would it be fun?'

The Portuguese veteran said: "Fake news: JM's best eleven, JM picks his best eleven… Fake news.

"I never ever did this. I always refused to do it, it is impossible for me to do it and I didn't do it. Fake news.

"I never did and I will never do. I've had so many top players, but the most important thing is what those players gave to me. Players who gave me everything: quality, effort, blood and soul, they are all in my best eleven. All of them. That's why I always refused to choose my best eleven.

"I love my players, I respect my players.

"Fake news. Please respect my history and respect my boys."