Speaking after the Premier League champions thumped fourth division Macclesfield 6-1 in the FA Cup third round, Mourinho told reporters: "I've been laughing a lot about it.

"Also in my country it's been written 'the dark moment of Jose Mourinho'.

"Is the dark moment of my career three (Premier League) draws, second in the premiership, last 16 of the Champions League and semi-finals of the League Cup? It means my career has not been bad."

The Portuguese added, however, that a string of injuries were causing problems.

Chelsea trail league leaders Manchester United by six points after drawing at home to Reading and Fulham and away at Aston Villa over the last two weeks.

One of the chief criticisms of the champions has been the poor form of Andriy Shevchenko, bought from AC Milan for around 29 million pounds (56.32 million dollars) last year.

Mourinho said last week the Ukraine striker was not performing.

Shevchenko failed to score again on Saturday but Mourinho said his performance was much improved.

"It's frustrating for a striker to be in a team that wins 6-1 and not be on the score sheet," said the Chelsea manager.

"In some other matches maybe he accepted this without a fight. Today he fought hard and worked for the team."

Mourinho said England stalwart Frank Lampard, who scored a hat-trick, should have been rested but French under-21 midfielder Lassana Diarra failed to turn up in time for a team meeting and had been dropped.

"I started with Lamps and in the first half he was crucial for us."

Lampard's treble was followed by goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips, John Obi Mikel and Ricardo Carvalho.

Macclesfield played most of the second half with 10 men after goalkeeper Tommy Lee was sent off for bringing down Shevchenko in the area.

Chelsea are missing captain John Terry, fellow defender Khalid Boulahrouz, wingers Joe Cole and Arjen Robben and goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini through injury.

Mourinho said with Carvalho suspended for Wednesday's League Cup semifinal first leg against Wycombe Wanderers, Chelsea would be playing with a makeshift central defence of full-back Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Michael Essien.