John Terry in stitches as Chelsea players are put through their paces... and Jose Mourinho insists his side deserve to be top

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Jose Mourinho cares little that Chelsea's eight-point advantage over Manchester City has been cut to three at the halfway stage of the Premier League season.

And the Chelsea boss and his players looked in high spirits ahead of the New Year's Day trip to Tottenham as they braced the cold weather during a training session on Wednesday morning.

John Terry, in particular, appeared to be enjoying the session as the Blues captain was left in stitches after the players piled on top of John Obi Mikel at Cobham.

John Terry is in stitches as the Chelsea players enjoy a joke at training on Wednesday morning

Manager Jose Mourinho was in high spirits too as he shared a joke with his players

Chelsea have been pace-setters since their opening win at Burnley, with only New Year's Day opponents Tottenham temporarily overtaking them on goal difference after two rounds of matches.

Now, after playing all the other 19 teams in the Premier League and ahead of the first return fixture of the season, Mourinho has reflected on a strong start by his side.

'Everybody starts with the same points and if we have one more point than them (Manchester City), we did well,' Mourinho said.

'We are top of the league at the end of the first round because we deserve it and because it is a consequence of what we did.

Striker Diego Costa takes a tumble during the session, much to the amusement of Cesar Azpilcueta

Chelsea players pile on top of John Obi Mikel as the squad lark about in training

'Chelsea is playing very well since the beginning of the season. That's the only thing we work at, the only thing we concentrate on.

'And in the second part of the season we are going to try to do exactly the same thing.

'Against Tottenham, we will be there again trying to get a good result.'

Mourinho is chasing a third Premier League title and Chelsea's first in five years.

Seven times he has led a championship on Christmas Day - in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain - and each time his team has gone on to win the title.

Chelsea dropped points for the fourth time this season against Southampton on Sunday

Chelsea, who were eight points clear of defending champions City during November, are indebted to Burnley that their lead was not cut to a solitary point.

The Clarets last Sunday fought back from two goals down to draw at City on a day when Chelsea had earlier been held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Mourinho's men have drawn four times and lost once this season in the Premier League, but won all nine of their home matches.

City's revival has coincided with a difficult spell on the road for Chelsea, who have dropped points in three of their last four away games in drawing at Sunderland and Southampton and losing at Newcastle.

Eden Hazard cancelled out Sadio  Mane's opener as the sides drew 1-1 at St Mary's

'We had very difficult fixtures away from home,' Mourinho added.

'We lost one game that we didn't deserve to lose (at Newcastle). We are doing well.'

Chelsea's only other dropped points were at City and at Manchester United, who are 10 points adrift in third in what appears already to be a two-horse title race.

Mourinho has a full squad to choose from for the trip to White Hart Lane to play a Spurs side who are without a win in 10 matches against their London rivals. Tottenham have not beaten Chelsea since April 2010.