CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is not taking anything for granted as he prepares for a run of three games against teams in the bottom five. First up is tonightâs trip to Sunderland, who they also face in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals later this month. âI was analysing their match against Newcastle at home and Man City at home, these were the matches I focused on,â the Portuguese said. âI think they are better than the points they have, the quality of their players is not comparable with some teams in that part of the table, but I think they are in a moment where one point doesnât make a big difference. âThey need three points, they need two or three victories to get out of the dangerous area. I donât think they can play in a defensive way, that is why they have a positive approach because they need to win matches. âI think Gustavoâs style is to try and play good football, I think we have two very difficult matches.â Mourinho confirmed striker Samuel Etoâo could feature tonight following a groin injury but the Blues will be without David Luiz and Oscar. The Portuguese also expects Ashley Cole to start one of the next two games after the England international lost his left-back berth to Cesar Azpilicueta. Mourinho believes his side are still in a six-horse race for the Barclays Premier League title, even if rivals Manchester United and Tottenham have suffered stuttering starts to their campaigns. The Blues currently sit second in the table, four points behind league-leaders Arsenal. Manchester City and Liverpool are also in the mix and while both United and Spurs fell further behind the pacesetters after sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane on Sunday, Mourinho feels they are both still protagonists in the Premier League title fight. However, the former Real Madrid coach also believes eighth-placed United and Spurs in ninth will find it difficult to mount a challenge if they slip any further adrift of top spot. âUnited are nine points behind Arsenal,â he said. âIt is a gap. Tottenham are 10 behind. It is not a gap for us because we are speaking about five or six points, that is not a gap. It is something that in two matches can be over, but nine or 10 points is a gap. âI keep saying that there is a lot of games to play in December and at the beginning of January we can have a look and see if all six are within shorter distances. âSpurs and United know that if the next step is to reduce from 10 to seven or from nine to six it is to get them back in to the race, but they know that if the next move is from 10 to 13 it becomes hard. âArsenal are much more comfortable because they can slide in one match and nothing matters to them but some teams know the next slide could be crucial. âThe six teams are very equal in their potential. I see the six teams as very good teams and there are other teams doing very well. Everton and Newcastle are doing very well.â Mourinho refused to highlight a favourite from the six sides he believes are genuine title challengers but does think there is more pressure on City, given their abundance of talent. âI donât think that we can talk about favourites but we can say that there is one team at the top of the league,â he said. âAll of the six teams are title contenders but I keep saying the club with the most pressure to win it, because their squad is quite unique, is Manchester City.â
Really surprised he's mentioned us. Most managers this season have seen fit to not even acknowledge us pre match.
Why do they say "the Portuguese said." Has anyone ever hear someone say "The English Said" or "The Scottish said" - no, it's the scotsman or the Englishman!! Someone more rounded with these things tell me why they do this?
The Portugueseman? The Portuman? I guess putting "man" on the end just doesnt work for some nationalities The German-man ?
Marcus, I've haven't heard such a stupid comment for a while, you aren't a teacher by any chance are you?
