By Dan Levene

Jose Mourinho has persuaded Chelsea's star players to give up their personal ambitions for a collective 'state of soul'.

The Blues boss says he's managed to get his squad to shelve their individual wishes, to put themselves in the shop window for World Cup selection or whatever, in order to prioritise one thing only – Chelsea.

“I think a big team has, as we say in Portuguese, a 'state of soul',” said the Chelsea manager.

“At the moment my players have this collective soul. A good squad with good people and we try our best in every match.”

The team spirit instilled by Mourinho has been notable in recent performances – with Blues overcoming the odds to achieve a fine run of form.

And the coach says he's in no doubt that his mantra of team-before-individual is what has done it.

“It's the ambition to do well for the team,” he said.

“It's what (Samuel) Eto'o did against Man City, coming in for 10 minutes. It's what Demba (Ba) did at Arsenal, coming in for the last 10.

“It was what the people did against Man City. The ones who didn't play were waiting for that turn and when they had their match they did what they did against Arsenal.

“It's what Mark Schwarzer did – he only played one match against Swindon in four months and then he came in and played as solidly against Arsenal.

“It's what they are all doing. The team is more important than the individual.

Jose Mourinho
“(It's saying) 'I have my individual ambitions and targets and I want to go to the World Cup and play every game and be in the first team for every match but the team is more important than me'.

“'When I'm not playing I'm supporting my mates. When somebody makes a mistake I'm there to try to correct his mistake.'”

Though often mistaken for being arrogant, Mourinho refused to take the credit for this mass parking of players egos.

“It's up to them,” he said. “The manager without players is nobody.

“You can have ideas and strategies and experience but without them you are nobody. They are the most important thing.

“The way we are working there is a good evolution in the team. We have a different identity and during the process of searching.

“They are accelerating the process because of the collective mentality they are showing.”