6 Tactical Changes To Save Chelsea's Season
5. Exit The Domestic Cups Early
Recent poor performances could be a blessing in disguise. Several members of the first team have looked off the pace since pre-season and they look burnt out.
An early defeat in either the League or FA Cup would result in fewer games which may provide invaluable resting time for Chelsea's tired squad, as Liverpool proved in 2014 (when they came within a whisker of winning the league) that playing only once a week can pay dividends.
Mourinho has kept the faith with the likes of Terry, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Hazard and Costa but the backbone of last season's League Cup-winning squad has gone a little limp.
Fringe players including Kenedy, Baba Rahman and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all desperate to perform for the Blues, giving Jose a chance to rest his star players and keeping their confidence intact should the team crash out.
Chelsea haven't finished outside the top four without a trophy since 1996 and silverware would certainly be welcome in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet but sometimes they eyes are on a bigger prize.