José Mourinho said Chelsea are confident of winning the Premier League title despite their stuttering form. They are six points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand going into their game at Hull on Sunday.
“We are in front, the advantage is not half a body, the advantage is significant, but still a long way to go,” said Mourinho, who referred to Chelsea as the “little horse” in last season’s title race, when they finished third behind City.
“We are there, we are strong, we are confident. We believe in our capacity to stay there until the last match. We know we fight against that word you use so many times – complacency – the best way to fight is to know there is a long way to go.”
Arsenal, in third place, are seven points behind while Manchester United are eight points back in fourth and fifth-placed Liverpool are 10 points adrift of Chelsea, who have won five of their past 10 games in the Premier League.
Mourinho said: “I think it’s still five [in the title race], because the distance is still mathematically possible. The fifth, the fourth, don’t have to fight against one, they have to overcome three. The distance is so short and mathematically I see that things are open.”
Chelsea are unfazed by leading from the front and being chased. “It’s become something normal for us this season to know that we are top of the league,” said Mourinho, pointing out his team have led from day one.
Chelsea are bidding for a first Premier League title in five years, since Carlo Ancelotti’s side won in 2009-10.
It would be Mourinho’s third Premier League title, following wins in 2005 – Chelsea’s first championship in 50 years – and 2006 during his first spell.
“Chelsea won three Premier League titles and people know that number clearly, but you can analyse in a different way: in the last nine years Chelsea won it once, so it’s not easy to win,” Mourinho said. “In these nine years, Chelsea was never at the end of March with six points more than second. We have a good situation in our hands and the way we worked last week and the way we worked this week, the players are very confident.”
Mourinho knows the points required for Chelsea to win. “If the other teams can make 27, I need 22,” he said. “We go for it. We are still far, but we are closer than ever. Everybody believes that we are going to do that.”
Chelsea’s sole focus is on the Premier League after their European elimination to Paris Saint-Germain, which was followed by a 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Mourinho, who says the teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be a first-team regular next term, downplayed the prospect of expensive recruits, with Chelsea linked with a £60m move for the Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
“I don’t speak about Pogba or other players,” Mourinho said. “You look to our midfield players and between Fàbregas, Matic, Ramires, Ruben, Mikel. We have a good group. I’m happy with the squad I have. You always want to improve and there is always a couple of changes to be made, but nothing really important. I’m not worried about funds because we are fine.”