Chelsea's difficulties intensified when they got a nightmare Champions League draw against Barcelona and lost their record signing Alvaro Morata to a back injury.
Just seven days ago, Antonio Conte was preparing his side to try to secure top spot in Champions League Group C on the back of six wins in seven Premier League games and Morata's first goal in four matches.
His team were then punished for failing to beat Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge last Tuesday and must now renew their rivalry with Barcelona after a series of 10 often deeply controversial Champions League fixtures between 2005 and 2012.A good omen for Chelsea is that they did beat Barcelona before winning the 2012 European Cup, but Monday's draw worsens an already daunting schedule in February and March when they play Barcelona twice as well as Manchester City and Manchester United away in little more than three weeks.
Conte is already worried that his squad is not big enough to cope after losing against West Ham United.
"If I stay here to complain it is not the right way," said Conte. "For sure, it is difficult. To face a game every three days is not simple, especially if your squad is not big, but at the same time we have to face this situation.
"For sure, some players can be tired. That is normal because some players are playing from this summer and our tours in China and Singapore. We have to find more rotations. Last season we faced the season with 13 players regularly...