Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has insisted that his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho is not strained following a difficult start to the season.

The 27-year-old, who was a star performer in the Blues' title-winning campaign last season, has had an indifferent start to the current term.

The West London outfit have picked up just three wins from nine Premier League games.

Matic was hauled off just 28 minutes after coming on as a substitute in Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Southampton earlier this month, but the midfielder has insisted that he has no problems with Mourinho.

"I am professional and respect all decisions of the coach," Sky Sports News quotes Matic as saying. "I have never had a problem with any coach because they all respect that I am very professional. I do my best. So with Mourinho it is the same. He knows he can count on me always."

Chelsea are currently 12th in the table, 10 points behind leaders Manchester City.