Eden Hazard has asked Jose Mourinho to help develop special shin pads that would also protect his calves, the Chelsea manager has said.
Mourinho has repeatedly spoken out about the number of fouls committed against Hazard, and at the turn of the year suggested the Belgium international could leave the Premier League if he continues to be targeted.
The Chelsea boss had more recently complained that Hazard had been fouled nine times during the 1-1 Champions League draw at Paris Saint-Germain this week but said opponents were not being punished because the winger was not the type of player who "dives, stays on the floor, rolls in the grass, screams."
Speaking prior to Saturday's game against Burnley, Mourinho said Hazard had requested his assistance in developing shin pads that would offer greater protection.
"Eden told me to speak with my friends who make the carbon shin pads," he told his prematch news conference. "I am not joking. He told me to speak with them because I am friends with the guy, to try to make it also for the back [of his calves]. Like a horse, when the horses do the jumping -- in front and behind. Because now he gets [kicked] behind.
"I know [Hazard is the most fouled player], but he is not the player that as a consequence of that creates more cards for the opponent.
"Normally, you get 100 fouls and the opponents will get a certain percentage of yellow cards, so if he is the most fouled player, he should be the player that creates more cards for the opponent but he isn't.
"I know who is, but I don't say names because maybe the ones are the ones that want that and Eden doesn't want that. He wants to play. He doesn't want people to get cards and people to get a red card.
"I'm proud of him for being honest on the pitch and I leave it with the authorities to do something about the rest."
Mourinho said officials should do more to recognise "tactical fouls" -- in which the intent is to stop the opponents' attack -- but said Hazard was also a victim of more dangerous challenges.
"Referees have to understand that sometimes little fouls are big fouls in the context of the game," he said. "A player that is a specialist in stopping counter-attacks. The team loses the ball, he makes the foul. It is a small foul, but it stops the counter-attack. And I think Eden is punished in both ways.
"If you see the game in Paris, he had nine fouls, but three of them were very bad fouls. Very dangerous fouls and nothing."