Mourinho critical of strikers

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is reported to have criticised his striking options in what he thought was an off-the-record conversation.

The Portuguese is said to have commented on the lack of depth he has up front and questioned Samuel Eto'o's age in what he took to be a private conversation with a Swiss businessman at a sponsor's event.

The comments were recorded and aired by French television station Canal Plus according to reports in the national newspapers.

Mourinho was quoted in various reports as having told the businessman: "The problem with Chelsea is I lack a striker. I have Eto'o but he is 32 years old, maybe 35, who knows?"

Mourinho has favoured the Cameroon forward of late, ahead of record signing Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.

Chelsea would not comment on the matter when contacted by Press Association Sport on Tuesday morning, but the club did appear to have indicated in other reports that the quotes were genuine.

It was also revealed that in the same conversation he indicated his interest in signing Radamel Falcao, while taking a swipe at the Colombian's current club Monaco.

"I need a striker. Falcao needs a club," Mourinho is reported to have said.

"A player like him cannot play in front of 3,000 people. Monaco is a club to end (your career with)."