John Terry has hit back at Robbie Savage's criticism of his form for Chelsea, claiming the BBC pundit is not qualified to pass judgment.

Terry, 35, has struggled individually as Chelsea have slumped to 15th in the Premier League amid reports of dressing-room unrest and the former England captain says he accepts criticism from his former international colleagues Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville "on the chin". But not from Savage.

"I've come under criticism, individually, from certain players and individuals, players I've looked up to and played alongside. I've taken that on the chin: Rio, Carra, Neville, the very best I've come up against in the game. I take that on the chin. When others speak, maybe I don't take it on the chin. When players have not had a career, played at a really bad level in their career … Robbie Savage being one. He's dug me out a couple of times. You take it as a footballer, as an individual. I'll take it from the Rios, Carraghers and Neville. All day long. From others? Nah."

In response to reports that an unnamed Chelsea player had claimed he would rather lose than win for Mourinho – described on Tuesday by a Chelsea spokesman as “the BBC failng below their standards” – Terry was similarly scathing.

“Again, listen, in my whole football career I’ve never heard a player come out with those words. In my whole career. Whether it’s been going bad or really bad. It’s ridiculous I have to sit here and talk about it,” he added. “I’ve seen players’ faces with the disappointment after results, the feeling we’ve let the club and the manager and the fans down.

“The player wouldn’t be let out of the dressing room, let’s be honest. It wouldn’t go down too well, would it?”

(Guardian service)