Former QPR boss Harry Redknapp believes Chelsea are on course to miss out on the top four after an underwhelming start to the new campaign.
The Premier League champions are 16th in the table after just two wins and four defeats in their opening eight matches of the new season. Defeat to Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday left the Blues seven points off the top four, but Mourinho has assured supporters that - whether it be in 'December, January or February' - they will return to the Champions League positions before May.
Owner Roman Abramovich has decided to stand by Mourinho after the board held a lengthy inquest following defeat to Ronaldo Koeman's Saints.
The club have warned they expect Mourinho to remain in contention for a top four finish but Redknapp fears the club will suffer a repeat of 2012, when Roberto Di Matteo led the club to a sixth-place finish.
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"I think it will be a poor season, they might make the top four. When they won the Champions League [2012], they finished sixth but they got out of jail by winning the Champions League," Redknapp said on his Kicca page.
"I can see another fifth or sixth season coming this year now. At the start of the year I thought they had every chance of winning it again but at the moment you see them outside the top four."
"Maybe some players don't like him." The former Tottenham boss added.
"It's quite possible. They're certainly not pulling it all out for him at the moment.
"I think everybody loved him the first time he came. Maybe now, some of the new players aren't happy with the way they're being treated or don't like the way he talks to them.
"Whatever it is, they're not performing for him."
