Jose Mourinho 'destroyed' Mohamed Salah and made the Liverpool star cry, it has been claimed.
The duo previously worked together at Chelsea, with the winger touching down from Swiss side Basel back in January 2014.
While Salah has since become a Premier League icon at Liverpool, however, his time at Stamford Bridge failed to live up to expectations.
The Egypt international lasted just 18 months and was often behind the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian in Mourinho's pecking order.
Mohamed Salah and Jose Mourinho previously worked together at Chelsea
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Given what he's achieved since, Salah's poor form during his time at Chelsea remains a mystery.
And former Blues star John Obi Mikel, speaking on his podcast, has now revealed Mourinho 'destroyed' the forward's confidence.
It's even claimed Mourinho, who is manager of Serie A side Roma these days, made Salah cry during a bust-up.
Speaking about both Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, Mikel stated: "They were so unlucky that the boss, Mourinho, then didn't take any prisoners.
"If you weren't doing your job, it didn't matter who you were, he would have a go at you.
"He had a go at Mohamed Salah at half-time once and he was in tears crying.
"We thought 'OK, he's going to let him back on the pitch' but then he destroyed the kid and then pulled him off.
"But that was just his mentality back then but would Mourinho do that now? I think no.
"He's become older and more mature and knows how to deal with younger players, and players in general, a lot more now.
"I think that's just how he got the best out of us then and that's how we were when we were successful because of how he wanted us to play, train and behave as players."
De Bruyne is another modern-day Premier League icon.
He was allowed to leave Chelsea for Wolfsburg on a permanent basis in January 2014 after failing to win Mourinho round.
And Mikel says the Belgium international was involved in a bust-up with Samuel Eto'o before departing west London.
"I think Kevin De Bruyne, wasn't the best trainer back then," he said.
"He was somebody that comes to training, and probably because he wasn't playing that much, always having his head down, always angry and sulking.
"He was like a kid who came to the playground and nobody wanted to play with him.
"I remember when Samuel Eto'o had a go at him and they had a massive fight on the training ground just because he [De Bruyne] wasn't putting in the effort that Samuel Eto'o wanted so they had a massive row on the pitch."
Like Salah, Chelsea may have regrets about showing De Bruyne the door.
He has silenced all his critics ever since returning to England with Manchester City in January 2016.
De Bruyne has won five Premier League titles in the years since.
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Football news: Jose Mourinho also once had Kevin De Bruyne at his disposal at Chelsea
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And he was also part of the City side that won the Champions League last season, too.
Mikel has been left stunned by the pair's improvement - but has praised the duo for the way their careers have developed.
"We didn't expect them to be where they are today but credit to them, they've gone away and improved to become superstars," he added.
"When I watch Kevin De Bruyne play today I'm like "is it the same guy!?'."
