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'Jose Mourinho said I'd be lucky to get Tesco job after 4-0 defeat I didn't even play'

Carlton Cole says he was convinced that Chelsea manager Jos Mourinho was a 'genius' after a bruising pre-training meeting where The Special One told him some unwelcome home truths

[Carlton said he struggled to get a game after Chelsea made a number of big-name signings]

Carlton said he struggled to get a game after Chelsea made a number of big-name signings(Image: YouTube/HappyHourPodcast)

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho once gave a player the full hairdryer treatment after a 4-0 defeat despite not even playing.

Carlton Cole, who spent much of his Chelsea career out on loan, had returned to the team despite being, by his own admission, outclassed by a wave of big-name new signings.

He recalled: I was thinking Drogba, Crespo Gudjohnsen, I aint getting in front of all them boys.

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But even Chelseas array of big guns faltered on one disastrous away fixture at Liverpool.

[Manager Mourinho was distinctly unimpressed at his team's 4-0 thumping]

Manager Mourinho was distinctly unimpressed at his team's 4-0 thumping(Image: Getty)

Cole told Jack Maates Happy Hour podcast how the players met up for a gloomy post-mortem on the match.

We had a meeting, he said. Theyd just got pummelled four-nil up at Anfield I wasnt in the squad by the way and we had to train the next day, on a Sunday. We had a Champions League game coming up

So everyone was in on the Sunday, just trying to either doing warm-down or getting ready for the the Champions League game on the Tuesday.

[Carlton ended up playing better than he'd ever done before]

Carlton ended up playing better than he'd ever done before(Image: Getty)

Before every training session, The Special One would hold a briefing for the players, explaining whod be involved and what would be expected of them.

After the thorough thrashing the team had received at Anfield, Cole expected there would be some harsh words for someone.

He was feeling, if anything, slightly relieved that he hadnt been picked to play that day.

But he got a nasty surprise. I've sat down, he recalled, "and I'm thinking Here we go someone's going to get the hair-dryer treatment'.

But it was all about me!

[Carlton ended up playing better than he'd ever done before]

Carlton says the harsh words transformed his game(Image: YouTube/HappyHourPodcast)

For a full five minutes Mourinho laid into Cole about his hard-partying lifestyle in front of the entire Chelsea squad.

He was going to me Listen Carlton, you're never gonna make it'," he continued.

'Youre not serious, all you care about is going out, youd be lucky to be working in Tescos'.

I was only 21 at the time, I was thinking thats a big drop."

Cole was furious, but accepted that he had to just listen to the criticism and not argue back.

And bizarrely, Mourinhos harsh words had a profound effect on him.

Ill tell you what, he said, I went out to train I had the best training session of my life.

I was like prime Ibrahimovic just smashing balls, using my body , I was on top form.

He bested formidable French defender William Gallas, and was left marvelling at Mourinhos ability to fire him up.

I was thinking This guy's a genius! Cole added.

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