Mourinho: Manchester United and Spurs are close to being in the title race

Jose Mourinho at a Chelsea press conference

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has played down talk of his side winning the Premier League title, by arguing that there are no favourites and that the league could go to any one of six teams, report Sky Sports. Mourinho inferred that Manchester City’s “unique” squad was the team most likely to have the pressure of being title favourites, before warning Manchester United and Tottenham that they could easily drop out of contention with a few bad results.

“I don’t think we can speak about favourites”, said Mourinho, “but we can say that one team is top of the league and some are a little bit far [behind]. I keep thinking that all the six teams are title contenders. I keep saying the team with more responsibilities to win it, because their squad is quite unique (sic), is Manchester City.”

“Spurs and United know if teams reduce [their points gap] from 10 to seven, or to six, they are again into the race.”

“But I think they also know if the move is from 10 to 13, or nine to 12, it becomes hard.”

Mourinho went onto talk about left-back Ashley Cole, who has found himself out of the team in recent weeks behind Cesar Azpilicueta:

“Any player that normally starts matches, and Ashley starts matches, for all his career, when they don’t I think they are naturally not the happiest guy in the camp.”

“Professionally, he is always a team player, yes, friend of his friends, yes. So I also can say that he deserves to play

“But in my opinion, Azpilicueta is doing really well, so it is a question of Ashley to keep working and waiting for his opportunity.

“We are fine. I trust what I have. A left-back with a right foot is not a big problem.

In response to whether he will be dipping into the market for a new left back in January, Mourinho said: “The market will be open for a month and you never know what will happen but I don’t think so.”

Mourinho also pored scorn on comments attributed to striker Romelu Lukaku – currently on loan to Everton – in which he suggested that he may stay at Everton next season, saying:

“Maybe there is a new rule in football, where, when the season is finished, every player is free to decide his future.”

Man United have suffered 165 fouls this season. Everton (191) and West Brom (173) are the only teams in the Premier League to have suffered more fouls.