There’s just something about Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Something about him that makes him almost immune from criticism.

Maybe it’s his swarve and sophisticated Portuguese aura.

Maybe it’s because you can never be far from a headline-grabbing sound bite.

Maybe it’s his passionate touchline antics and fervent celebrations.

Or maybe because he’s a damn fine manager.

However you may view it, recent defeats to Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and PSG have threatened to de-rail Chelsea’s season. And yet, if there’s anyone who appears to absolve any blame for the club’s wobbles it’s Mourinho.

His often unprovoked outbursts and uncanny knack to create disharmony may have self-destructed his side’s chances of sealing a major trophy in his first year back at Stamford Bridge.

Not good enough for the Premier League title, Jose argues. No strikers, Jose says.

Say something enough and people will start to believe it. Media, supporters and players alike (despite what might be being said behind closed doors) have begun to buy-in to Mourinho’s script.

Though, when you think about it, there is little to suggest that Mourinho should have any real grounds for complaint. There is a very real possibility that his side could be beaten to the Premier League crown by a team that finished 7th last season – 14 points behind 3rd-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool have had a remarkable season, sure. But suggesting that Chelsea aren’t equipped to win a league title during the most open Premier League in years looks weak.

Consider further that The Blues have invested heavily in the recruitment of Andre Schurrle, Marko van Ginkel, Willian, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah and you begin to have little sympathy for the Portuguese – not least when you realise that none of those are strikers.

And that’s part of the problem too. There have been opportunities for Mourinho to bring in striking reinforcements. Instead, cash was spent on players like Salah and van Ginkel who you feel will have little to no bearing on Chelsea’s immediate future.

Oh, and then there’s Romelu Lukaku. Arguably Chelsea’s best striker. Out on loan.

What Mourinho does have at his disposal, admittedly, isn’t great. Fernando Torres plays one good game in 10. Samuel Eto’o is, in-keeping with the Mourinho theme; old and Demba Ba is, well, actually, not bad and should have had more time on the pitch this season.

Alarmingly for Chelsea fans (or those that don’t preach to everything Jose says), Mourinho has recent form in sinking his own ship. While winning one league title at Real Madrid during Barcelona’s tenure as quite possibly the greatest team ever is nothing to be ashamed of, the way in which his reign unravelled wasn’t pretty.

Mourinho divided the dressing room. He disenchanted key members of the team such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe. Even Mourinho himself described his final season as Real coach as the “worst” of his career following 2-1 Copa Del Rey defeat to fierce rivals Atletico Madrid.

That’s not to say Mourinho isn’t one of the game’s great managers. He is. His success with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and even, briefly, Real shows as much.

But if the last two years have proved anything it’s that he’s starting to develop a habit of unsettling and alienating dressing rooms – a stark contrast to the persona that arrived on English shores in 2004.

Mourinho always offered the impression of someone who galvanized his players, created a siege “us against everyone else” mentality and unified his teams.

Right now, he seems more concerned with lamenting his misfortunes rather than backing his team.

Mourinho might be the self-proclaimed “Happy One” but it might just be his players who are the Unhappy Ones.