Jose Mourinho admits 'we need goals' after Chelsea make worst start to a Premier League season for a decade

The 2-1 Champions League defeat to Basle added to the Blues poor start and the Portuguese has acknowledged his side will be in trouble if they fail to hit the back of the net

Jose Mourinho (GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho and Chelsea's attentions return to the Barclays Premier League on Saturday after their midweek Swiss slip-up.

Mourinho puts his unbeaten run of 62 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge on the line against west London neighbours Fulham in the week the Blues lost a home Champions League group game for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Chelsea have also made their worst start to a Premier League season in a decade - winning only against Hull and Aston Villa, while drawing at Manchester United and losing at Everton - in an inauspicious opening to Mourinho's second spell as boss.

The solution for Mourinho is simple.

"We need to score goals," Mourinho told Chelsea TV following the Basle defeat, Chelsea's first in 29 group-stage matches at home.

"When you don't score goals you are in trouble."

Following the Basle blow the self-proclaimed Special One insisted he was happy with his strike options - Samuel Eto'o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba - despite lamenting the failure to find the net.

The more worrying thing for the Portuguese may be that his side, unusually for a team under his stewardship, were porous at the back.

Defender Gary Cahill described the loss to Basle as "a big shock" and insisted players can "always do better" as Chelsea opened Group E with a defeat which means they are playing catch up.

It also extended the winless run to four matches.

"It's not a disaster but it's not ideal," said Cahill, on chelseafc.com, of the Basle loss.

"A club like this wants to win the majority of games it plays.

"That's the expectation. It's a blow but it's not the be all and end all.

"We need to win our next game now, as simple as that. The manager will stress that.

"We've got the squad to do it, we need to go on now and get back to winning ways on Saturday (against Fulham)."

Cahill's fellow defender Branislav Ivanovic is confident Chelsea can make amends in the Champions League.

"It's a bad start in the Champions League but it's just the first game," the Serbia defender said.

"We have to stand up, show the character in other games and this situation has to be a good example for the future."

Chelsea have time to rectify their failings before their next European encounter, at Steaua Bucharest on October 1, with the immediate focus on domestic duty and fixtures against Fulham, Swindon in the Capital One Cup and Tottenham.

Mourinho's methods will be scrutinised - captain John Terry was left on the bench for a second successive continental clash and Spain playmaker Juan Mata remains a peripheral figure - and he will likely make changes against the Cottagers.

PA