Mata Mourinho Chelsea
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho prepares to bring on Juan Mata in their Champions League game against Basel, September 18Reuters

Four games without a win, off to their worst start under Roman Abramovich and coming off the back of two straight losses - doesn't exactly feel like the Jose Mourinho era at Chelsea does it?

Up next for Chelsea? A fixture they quite like, albeit a big derby - against Fulham at Stamford Bridge in the English Premier League.

While Mourinho is keen to play down the ever increasing noises of a crisis developing within the confines of Chelsea, it will be hard to continue to do so, if the Blues fail to pick up a win against Fulham.

The manner in which Chelsea capitulated against FC Basel in the Champions League was pretty poor; as was their finishing against Everton last weekend.

Only Fernando Torres has got a league goal for the Blues this season, with Demba Ba hardly given a chance and Samuel Eto'o failing to convince in his last two games.

However, Mourinho has no choice but to persist with the three and hope that one, if not all three, come good sooner rather than later.

"We have good players, we have good talent and it's a question of time," Mourinho said. "First of all, the most important thing is the collective personality of the team. If you look at many national sides, the profile isn't to have initiative, the profile is to be waiting, to be compact and solid defensively and to wait for the opponent to make a mistake.

"I've played like that sometimes, many times at some clubs, it's not a critic it's just an option. It's about what is a priority for you. In this club the results can never not be a priority because it's in my nature, I want results.

"I'm not trying to protect myself by hiding behind the style and the project, that I don't care about results and I want seven years to get results, I'm not saying that, but the reality is that we want to play a certain style.

"The reality is that we played against Everton who were, until that time, the team with most ball possession in the Premier League. Chelsea go to Goodison Park and have 60 per cent possession, 21 shots and six big chances to score, but lose the match."

Mourinho has been criticised for not playing Chelsea's player of the last two seasons Juan Mata. The Portuguese had mentioned the player's lack of fitness as a major reason, but now with it becoming increasingly clear there are other issues, the Chelsea manager admitted Mata would have to change his game if he was keen on playing regularly.

"The way I'm reading the situation and the reasons why, in this moment, he's not playing so much are things I can speak about with him, but not publicly," Mourinho said. "But he played against Everton from the start and you can analyse his performance. And he came on against Basel when the team were winning 1-0 -- not like Demba Ba or John Obi Mikel, who came on to rescue the game -- with specific tasks to do.

"It's part of a process with him, too. It is one thing to play with Ramires and Oscar closing down opponents on each side, and Mata as a No.10 behind a striker with his clever assists, clever passes and fantastic actions because he has great talent.

"But it is another thing to adapt to the way we want to play. In this moment, Oscar is my No. 10 and, if anyone tells me Oscar has not been Chelsea's best player this season, I'd have to disagree. I have to prove to the fans that I am good. Now (Mata) must do the same."

Team News: Mourinho does not have too many injury concerns at the moment, with all eyes on who the manager will pick in his starting XI on Saturday night.

Fulham, who are struggling in 14th with just four points, are sweating on the fitness of Dimitar Berbatov, while fellow striker Darren Bent is expected to shake off a hamstring injury. Bryan Ruiz is set to miss out, however, along with Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder), Aaron Hughes (thigh) and Matthew Briggs (hernia).

Where to watch

The match is set for kickoff at 10.00 p.m. (IST) with Live telecast on ESPN. You can watch the game online with the official link HERE. 

Expected lineups: Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard, Schurrle, Oscar Hazard; Torres.

Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Richardson; Parker, Sidwell; Duff, Berbatov, Kacaniklic, Bent.

Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea