Ray Wilkins defends Chelsea players

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has leapt to the defence of the current playing squad.

Several reports have claimed that a number of the senior players at Stamford Bridge caused dressing room unrest in recent weeks that ultimately resulted in the departure of manager Andre Villas-Boas yesterday.

However, Wilkins, who worked under Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, has insisted that the current crop of players are not that way inclined.

"I found the players an absolute delight to work with," Wilkins told talkSPORT. "They are a very nice bunch of guys, they are a hard-working bunch and, coupled with that, they are an extremely talented bunch.

"We didn't have a problem. I don't think the players swayed the owner."

Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez are currently the joint favourites to become Chelsea's new manager.