Dr Feelbad
Chelsea's opening game of the season - a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea - was overshadowed by an incident late in the game involving club doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn.
With the Blues already down to 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Mourinho became animated when Eden Hazard was helped from the field by his medical staff, leaving them temporarily with nine men.
The Portuguese publicly called Carneiro and Fearn "impulsive and naive" after the game.
The episode rumbled on for weeks, with Carneiro since leaving Chelsea and FA board member Heather Rabbatts criticising the organisation for its handling of the case. Mourinho faced no action after being cleared of making discriminatory comments, but it took the focus off on-field matters.
Courtois crocked
Belgian goalkeeper Courtois was sent off in Chelsea's opening fixture against Swansea, but it was a knee injury sustained in training that really hit the Londoners hard.
Courtois, who had made the number one jersey his own at Stamford Bridge, needed surgery and was ruled out for three months.
With Petr Cech sold to Arsenal over the summer, the onus has fallen on Asmir Begovic to replace Courtois and although he has proved an able replacement, it is fair to say Courtois is a big miss for the club.
Hazard-ous waste
Fantasy League managers up and down the country are persisting with Eden Hazard, believing it is only a matter of time before last season's PFA Player of the Year returns to his scintillating best.
It is taking a bit longer than anybody imagined for the flying Belgian to get back into form and that has certainly impacted on Chelsea's sorry start.
Following the Blues' 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace there was implied criticism of Hazard from Mourinho, although he has not been the only player to suffer a dip in form with Branislav Ivanovic and Cesc Fabregas also struggling.
Money can't buy you Stones
Chelsea's pursuit of Everton defender John Stones dominated the back pages until the summer transfer window closed.
At least three bids of up to £37m were reported to have been made for the young England international, but the Merseysiders refused to budge, even when Stones submitted a transfer request.
Diego's absence proving Costa-ly
Last season it was a recurring hamstring injury, this season it has been disciplinary issues. Whatever the problem, Chelsea are struggling to get the best out of a striker who scored 17 goals in 18 Barclays Premier League matches at the start of the 2014-15 season.
The Spain international's aggressive side came to the fore against Arsenal when he bumped the chest of Laurent Koscielny and raised his hands to the Frenchman's face in the first half of the derby clash on September 19.
Although Costa escaped with only a yellow card at the time, he was later charged retrospectively with violent conduct and banned for three matches.
Terry rift rumours
Mourinho has vehemently denied talk of a rift with skipper John Terry but the central defender is certainly not proving as influential a figure as last season.
The Chelsea boss hit back at BT Sport pundit and former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard when he suggested there must be a problem between the pair after Terry was an unused substitute for the Champions League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Gerrard said: "There's certainly a bit of friction behind the scenes because for me, you play John Terry week in, week out, he's your captain. He's such an important figure in the dressing room and if Chelsea want to be successful this season, they need him in there."
Mourinho said: "Steven is wrong. I have a very good relationship with him. Sometimes we contact by SMS (text message). But he's wrong, because we have no problems."
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