Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that his Premier League champions have lost their fear factor as a result of the Blues' early-season woes.

Mourinho's men have endured their worst start to a top-flight campaign for 37 years, with the Londoners sitting 16th after winning eight points from a possible 24.

Two of Chelsea's four defeats have come at Stamford Bridge, and the Portuguese concedes that visiting teams have much more belief in themselves.

"One thing is to go to a stadium where there is a huge percentage of defeats for the away team. Another thing is to go to a stadium where the home team in the last four games has won only once. I really believe every team coming to Stamford Bridge doesn't fear us. They think they can get a result," he told reporters ahead of Saturday's visit of Aston Villa.

"Every game is a must-win game for different reasons. In my approach every game is a must-win game and when we don't win there is always a disappointment or a frustration. Villa are a team that lost very important players. The manager is trying to rebuild after losing the two most important players of the team.

"They are a team not getting the best results. I don't believe in a couple of months they will be in this position, just like I don't believe Chelsea will be in this position in a few months. We cannot run away from the reality of the Premier League table before the game starts. The numbers are very cruel but they are objective and we need points."

Chelsea have lost four league games already, one more than they did in the whole of last season.