(REUTERS) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho struck a defiant note after his team lost a penalty shootout against Stoke City and crashed out of the League Cup on Tuesday, insisting he did not need reassurances over his future from the club's hierarchy.

The 5-4 shootout win for the Potters handed Mourinho his eighth defeat in 16 games this season.

The disastrous run has already prompted the club's hierarchy to issue a public statement backing the manager, and Mourinho insisted he did not fear for his job.

"I don't need it (reassurances), I don't need more. My general situation is fantastic," he told reporters after the game.

"I have a day-off on Wednesday, fantastic family, I can sleep well every night.

"And Thursday will be one more day like I have in the last 15 years of my life."

The Portuguese, who has seen speculation over his future build in recent weeks with each new setback on the pitch, lashed out at suggestions that his players were not behind him.

"Do you think the players are not with me or didn't give everything to win the game? It's sad for the players. It's a lack of respect to the players, not to me," he said.

"For me, it would be a fantastic situation if the players were against me (because) I could say we didn't have the results because the players were against me."

Mourinho said the performance had answered Chelsea's doubters

Striker Diego Costa picked up an injury during the game that could rule him out for Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.