Chelsea continue to struggle in EPL

Marko Arnautovic returned to haunt Jose Mourinho with a spectacular victor as Stoke City sank Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday to plunge the Premier League champions’ manager’s future into doubt.

“We wanted to get a result for him”.

But Begovic said: “His spirit and his presence are always there”.

The Blues boss “admitted a Football Association charge of misconduct regarding his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area” at Upton Park and was fined £40,000 alongside the stadium ban.

Walters headed onto the roof of the net after good work from Shaqiri down the right, while Diego Costa’s shot was saved by Butland with his legs prior to half-time, and Stoke then opened the scoring eight minutes after the break.

“I want to go to Stoke-Chelsea with my son and, at the door of the stadium, somebody says: “You kid, you can come in”.

Begovic believes much of Chelsea’s problems are self-inflicted and rectifiable after another frustrating loss. It’s unfortunate we’re not giving him the results our performances deserve.

“But obviously half-time is a key time of the match and sometimes you can affect things in the correct manner”.

7 – The number of league games lost by Chelsea and Mourinho this season – the most league defeats the Portuguese has suffered in a single season in his career.

There doesn’t look enough in it to warrant a ban but with the run of luck that Chelsea are now experiencing, don’t be surprised to see him suspended for the rest of the season.

Victory kept Louis van Gaal’s side in fourth place, but they are now a point below co-leaders Manchester City and Arsenal, both of whom play on Sunday, and third-place Leicester City, who won 2-1 at home to Watford.

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard feels his former team’s poor start to the season is a reason for serious concern, and hopes they can turn the corner soon.

And with no sign of Chelsea salvaging anything from the game, Stoke held on to secure the three point.

The Belgian wizard was dropped by Jose Mourinho for the midweek Champions League triumph over Dynamo Kiev at Stamford Bridge.

Should have scored when he failed to stretch out in time to meet Hazard’s cross, while looking slightly unsure in front of goal during a few of his other chances.