Reports: Chelsea bans banter in an attempt to improve form

Mourinho’s side has endured three defeats in five Premier League fixtures

Chelsea have reportedly banned all kinds of banter at the club in an attempt to get their season back on track after a disastrous start to the season, according to the Telegraph. The Blues are currently enduring their worst start to a top-flight season for 29 years as they bid to win a Premier League title for the second consecutive season.

The recent 3-1 loss to Everton at the Goodison Park means that Jose Mourinho’s side are hovering just above the relegation zone after five games, having collected just four points. They also look very vulnerable in defensive situations this season, with Ivanovic in particular failing to recreate any of the good form they showed last season. Cesc Fabregas has also been a disappointment due to his lack of influence in any of these games, while Diego Costa and Eden Hazard both seem to be lacking the cutting edge they were so highly praised for last season.

With reports going around that John Terry and Diego Costa were involved in a training bust-up at the London club’s Cobham training ground, Mourinho has decided to ask his players to focus on their game and avoid any jokes or banter to help the club get back into its groove before things are too late.

The Portuguese tactician has realised that any result besides wins in their next two matches against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League will deteriorate his team’s chances of winning silverware this season, and is also wary of the questions regarding the stability of his job after the indifferent form shown by his players so far this season.

Nemanja Matic spoke about the importance of a win against Maccabi, admitting that the entire Chelsea team needs a boost in confidence to reverse their terrible early season form.

“It’s good we have another game against Maccabi,” he said, as per quotes on the Mirror. “We have to win, for our own confidence and for the fans. Then we have a derby against Arsenal, so I hope we will be ready for that and we can take three points.”

“Of course we are not happy” he admitted, when asked about Chelsea’s recent 3-1 loss to Everton.

“Everybody is sad because of the result. Obviously we feel bad. We are in a difficult moment and having four points after five games is not normal for our team. Chelsea are not used to being on runs like we are at the moment, but this is the reality.

“We have to work hard to get our game back to the way we played last season. I really don’t know what’s happened, but it’s not good for us and we need to see what we can do better as a team.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv boss ‘concentrating’ on the game

Maccabi Tel Aviv boss and former Chelsea player Slavisa Jokanovic gave views on his side’s upcoming match-up against Chelsea when speaking with the Evening Standard, saying that he wants to take advantage of Chelsea’s poor form at the moment and steal a win for the Israeli side despite his previous allegiances with the London side.

"My interests are now with a different side and I will try to hurt them more and damage them in this moment," Jokanovic said. "I am trying to push myself, I am concentrating on this game and looking to demonstrate what I can do for Maccabi."

The Chelsea lineup for the Champions League game is expected to include the likes of Oscar, Willian, Falcao and Remy, who are all desperate to impress Mourinho as they try to get regular game time. The changes will be made ahead of their home game against Arsenal, which is a match the Blues will be expecting to win considering their superior record against the Gunners.