'Mourinho dragging Chelsea down' - Jamie Redknapp

Chelsea's struggles continued as Marko Arnautovic's second-half volley earned Stoke City a 1-0 victory on Saturday Night Football.

Mourinho was not in attendance at the Britannia Stadium due to his one-match stadium ban and the result leaves the reigning Premier League champions just three points above the relegation zone, and 13 points adrift of the top-four places.

"This time after 12 games last season they had not lost, now they've lost seven matches - something is dramatically wrong," Redknapp told Saturday Night Football.

"It can't be right. They breezed the league last year, to be in this situation is unprecedented, I can't remember a team ever performing like this after winning the title.

"Mourinho has to take a lot of responsibility for that; the club doctor [situation], taking John Terry off at half-time against Man City, subbing Nemanja Matic on and off - he's the best player you've got - Eden Hazard's form, a stadium ban, how many more things can there be?"

After last week's home defeat to Liverpool, Sky sources reported last week that Mourinho's position as Chelsea manager was not under immediate threat.

However, Redknapp thinks the manager's saving grace could be the perceived lack of a suitable replacement.

"You almost feel he is dragging the club down with his behaviour and if it carries on I don't know what you can do," Redknapp said.

"The problem is who do you get? It's not that easy. Because of his reputation maybe you should give him more time but this is more than worrying, this is terrible times for Chelsea."