Branislav Ivanovic has become one of the main scapegoats for Chelsea's dreadful opening form this season – with repeat images of him backing-off forwards with his arms behind his back easy fodder for the Match Of The Day couch-dwellers.

That has become one of the issues – not necessarily because Ivanovic does it, but because it has become a known weakness and people target it.

Both Everton and Crystal Palace overloaded the Chelsea right from the very start of their wins over the Blues, and under that sort of pressure, a mistake is inevitable – even from the best of defenders.

It is certainly the case that Ivanovic looks like he needs a rest.

Towards the end of the Everton game, the Serb appeared exhausted – mentally and physically.

There had been a couple of fraught exchanges with the technical area, and his shoulders were clearly slumped. On more than one occasion, he merely strolled back to the action.

Mourinho for his part, is clearly sticking with his man. Ivanovic has played every minute of competitive action this season. He was even made captain in one match.

Chelsea's defeat at Everton in pictures:

And this, in the context of Chelsea having bought a man who should be able to facilitate his benching.

Baba Rahman, openly stated by Mourinho as the player brought in to provide down-time for Ivanovic, has so far watched only one match from the bench.

In that match, against Crystal Palace, the coach took off fullback Cesar Azpilicueta – only to replace him with the more attack-minded Kenedy.

Mourinho likes his defenders to go through an intensive period of reprogramming before unleashing them on the big stage, so perhaps that explains the apparent reluctance to make use of a £22million new signing.

But the longer he leaves that, the more opponents will test Ivanovic.

There are problems elsewhere, of course.

Nemanja Matic, who has had a very poor start to the season, is often finding himself torn between two stalls: making up for the lack of work from Cesc Fabregas in midfield, and covering for the latest combination being tried by Mourinho at centre half.

The manager has used four different central defensive pairings in the last four games, during which time the side has conceded 10 goals.

This from a man who will happily play exactly the same back four for every match, so long as things are going well.

That turmoil on the heart of defence creates further problems for Ivanovic – who knows the game he has to play is slightly different depending on whether it is John Terry or Gary Cahill who is immediately beside him.

Further up field, Ivanovic is also receiving little protection from Pedro, who has been installed as the right winger of choice.

And, behind the defence, the switches in keeper have been an issue too. In his pomp, Petr Cech was remarkably consistent. That is something a defence gets used to.

Out of necessity, brought about by disciplinary and fitness issues, Mourinho has only once been able to play the same keeper for 90 minutes two matches in a row – again, causing confusions across the back line.

Ivanovic has undeniably had some poor moments, and the pace that once made him ideal for a role of a flying fullback to work in both boxes has slackened somewhat.

And he may well eventually be the one who bears the brunt though Mourinho, stubborn as he is, will not want to be seen to give way to the advice of pundits or fans on the issue.

But there are far deeper problems in this Chelsea team than the one sitting at right back.