Jose Mourinho: Top 6 More Likely Than Champions League Spots

Zouma said, before the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth: “He’s [Terry] been a big influence on me”. Not since 2001 had Chelsea lost to a Premier League newcomer.

The holders are three points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone in 14th place, 15 games into the season, with Mourinho doubting whether a top-four finish is possible. It is worth a mention that Chelsea had a three games unbeaten row before their clash with Bournemouth. But Bournemouth, enjoying their first taste of top-flight football after a rapid rise from obscurity, were always in with a chance as Chelsea pushed hard for a victor.

Eden Hazard’s brother insists the Belgian is happy at Chelsea despite reports that he is on his way out.

But it could have been even worse, with Winston Reid hitting the post with a header for West Ham and Mauro Zarate shooting wastefully wide from Andy Carroll’s lay-off early in the second half.

Jose Mourinho’s side produced another disjointed display and were stunned in the 82nd minute when substitute Glenn Murray, who had only been on the field for two minutes, headed home after a goalmouth scramble. But goalkeeper Asmir Begovic says: “We are behind the manager”. The Spaniard does not seem to want to play at the levels he achieved last season and seems more like a divisive figure in the team rather than someone who galvanises the attack.

Chelsea top the group ahead of the Portuguese side on goal difference, while Dynamo Kyiv are two points adrift and Casillas has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Mourinho and Co. “We were not intense enough with the ball, without the ball to create problems to our opponents”.

“We had enough chances and more than chances we had a lot of half chances and we couldn’t touch the ball, which is disappointing”, Mourinho said.

Mourinho did then address his under-performing players, adding: “If our players are not able to give the maximum every day that is a problem. Not so disappointed with the performance because especially in the second half the performance was good”.

However, Bournemouth counterpart Howe disagreed with Mourinho’s view of Chelsea’s penalty appeal.

As role reversals go, the Premier League has never witnessed anything quite like the change in fortunes between Chelsea and Leicester, who last term spent 140 days at the foot of the table while the Londoners were running away with the title.

“The manager’s key to that, that’s why he’s going to be one of the best managers in the country”.