Jose Mourinho's ultimately doomed attempts at improving the mood at struggling Chelsea included playing practical jokes such as throwing acorns at his players and staff.

A Blues insider told the Sun:

Jose often found the best way to get out of a hole was to take the heat out of the situation.

He would walk around the training ground and when no-one was watching he would pick up handfuls of acorns off the grass and stuff them in his pockets.

Then someone would suddenly get hit on the head by a flying acorn. It was the same with backroom staff. They would be at their desks and then get hit by a nut, look around and there was Jose walking away laughing. He was just trying to lift the pressure and the heavy atmosphere.