Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho bans training ground banter

In a seemingly futile attempt to pull Chelsea from the Premier League depths that currently plague the London side, mercurial manager Jose Mourinho has outlawed all training ground banter.

With just four points through their first five matches, a perilous two points above the relegation zone, the Blues are mired in the worst top-flight start in 29 years.

On the backs of Saturday's 3-1 loss to Everton, and with a Champions League tie with Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Premier League tilt with Arsenal on the horizon, Mourinho is looking to cease all tomfoolery.

Clutching at straws in an attempt to do anything to change the attitude at the club, Mourinho and his staff have barred players from partaking in repartee at Chelsea's Cobham training facility, according to The Telegraph's Matt Law.

A change in attitude for a club entrenched in dismal form is not unheard of, and whether or not it has any influence on the defending Premier League champs remains to be seen, regardless, towering holding midfielder Nemanja Matic is well aware of where the club's priorities lie.

"It’s good we have another game against Maccabi," Matic said.

"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."

Wednesday's home match against Maccabi is a must-win for a club desperate for a spell of good form, and while Mourinho's training ground alterations may have an impact, Oscar's return to the club could be precisely the change Chelsea needs to reverse a campaign of poor results.