Chelsea manager Mourinho criticize Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and questions Samuel Eto'o's age

José Mourinho has reacted angrily after reports emerged in France of the Chelsea manager making disparaging remarks, delivered in what he apparently considered to be a private conversation, over the quality of the forwards at his disposal.

Mourinho has been left to rebuild bridges with Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba after Canal Plus published a video on its website of him assessing the current crop.

While Chelsea do not deny the authenticity of the quotes, they have stressed that the manager was unaware he was being filmed and was instead conducting what he believed to be a private and light-hearted conversation with the head of Hublot watches at a sponsor's event. Mourinho, who has been left embarrassed and exasperated that footage of the exchange has since been published online.

‘The problem with Chelsea is I lack a scorer,’ said Mourinho, speaking in French. ‘I have Eto’o but he is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?’

The conversation went on to address the possible availability of the Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, a player in whom Chelsea have long been interested but given a value in excess of £50m and a colossal associated wage package, is now effectively out of their market, with the London club intent upon complying with Uefa financial fair play regulations. "I don't have Falcao but Falcao doesn't have a team," said Mourinho. "Who wants to play in front of 3,000 supporters? If I was one day to go to Monaco it would be at the end [of my career]."

The conversation was recorded by French broadcasters Canal+ in Switzerland on February 17 and appeared as a video clip on their website. It has since been removed but Mourinho’s words had already been well circulated, much to his embarrassment.