The worst start to a season at Chelsea since 1986 is no laughing matter for Jose Mourinho – so all jokes have been banned at the training ground.

Amid reports of crisis meetings and bust-ups between senior players, the Daily Telegraph has reported that the club’s Cobham training facility has become a banter-free zone as the players work hard to improve on the opening points tally of four from five matches.

It has been decided to concentrate on the pitch matters rather than gags and light-hearted humour at a time when only non-Chelsea supporters are finding anything to laugh at.

And although Mourinho has not publicly slammed his players – his anger has been directed at Everton manager Roberto Martinez and the Chelsea medical team – the club has been quick to deny talkSPORT commentator Stan Collymore’s claim that skipper John Terry and striker Diego Costa have had a massive falling-out.

[STALE MOURINHO COULD BE THE PROBLEM FOR CHELSEA - NOT THE SOLUTION]

[IS JOSE HEADING FOR A MESSY EXIT?]

[JOSE - I AM A CHAMPION AND UNDER NO PRESSURE]

A Blues spokesman claimed Collymore’s story as “utter nonsense” while reports of crisis meetings have also been flatly denied.

Chelsea head into tomorrow’s Champions League home game with Maccabi Tel Aviv in poor form and with morale low but midfielder Nemanja Matic insists things will improve quickly.

He said: “It’s good we have another game against Maccabi. 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. 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.”