Saturday 22 November 2014 13:43, UK
Jose Mourinho is confident Chelsea can avoid a period of 'crisis' this season as they chase down the Premier League title.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have made a near perfect start to the 2014/15 campaign, dropping just four points in their opening 11 fixtures.
An unbeaten opening has them four points clear at the top of the table and looking to emulate the achievements of the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ of a decade ago.
We don’t have pressure to lead. The pressure is for the ones who are coming behind. I always felt the pressure when I was behind, not when I was on top and I’ve always been competing for titles.
Mourinho has sought to play down talk of his side negotiating 38 games without suffering a setback, but is adamant there will be no alarming wobbles – with rivals such as Manchester City and Liverpool having already endured testing runs.
The Portuguese tactician said ahead of Saturday’s home date with West Bromwich Albion: “The thing that gives us confidence is the results we are getting are not occasional. They’re because we’re playing well.
“We believe that, when we lose points, the next game we are going to play well again.
“Against Maribor in the Champions League, we lost two points, but in the next game we were not in crisis.
“We were at Liverpool to play well again. I don’t believe there’ll be a Chelsea crisis in the season.
“I believe Chelsea will lose points and matches but not in a crisis of results. I truly believe in our ability.
“We don’t have pressure to lead. The pressure is for the ones who are coming behind. I always felt the pressure when I was behind, not when I was on top and I’ve always been competing for titles.
“To be first is easier than to be second. If you’re first, you think just about yourself.”
Mourinho is, however, aware that Chelsea are entering a crucial period, with the hectic festive schedule set to test his players – particularly the likes of Diego Costa who are experiencing such a run for the first time – to the fullest.
He added: “This next period is new for him. I believe the Christmas period for players doing it for the first time in their careers is more difficult.
“He’s had a little holiday, with a Chelsea physio, for two weeks, so even then he was working many hours per day with our physio. Now we feel he’s free of his old injury.
“Diego has four yellow cards now. Am I going to protect him? No way. When he is fit, he plays.”
