Chelsea
moved to the brink of winning the title with a 1-0 win over Manchester
United on Saturday, but Jose Mourinho says the race is not over yet.
Eden Hazard scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge to move the league leaders within two wins of being crowned champions.
John
Terry led the celebrations on the field at full-time, with his team
clear in the knowledge that they are almost there in the hunt for a
first title in five years.
Wins in
their next two games against Arsenal at the Emirates and against
Leicester City would wrap up the Barclays Premier League crown with room
to spare.
But
Mourinho shot down any talk of celebration and has said he will not
allow his players to believe they have crossed the finish line until the
maths say so.
‘In football is not about if it's not about almost, it's about mathematics,' Mourinho said.
‘When mathematically it's done, we celebrate. Until that moment we need two victories to be champions.
‘We
need to win matches. What we can say is that we play nine points at
home. We can be champions just at home with the matches we play at home.
Obviously if we can get points away, it's better.
‘I
am too old on this. I think I will be ready to work again next week and
to make the players feel that there is still a long way to go.’
Chelsea were
forced to defend on the edge of their own penalty area for much of the
game as United took the initiative with 70 per cent of the possession.
Centre
back Kurt Zouma was paired with Nemanja Matic in midfield as Mourinho
sought to stop Louis van Gaal’s side who have been in rampant form of
late.
The Portuguese coach had nothing but praise for his entire team for the way they fought to keep the visitors at bay.
The team was
fantastic,’ he said. ‘I'm the one that knows how fantastic it was. The
game was exactly what we want. When we manage to play the game we want
to play, the game was fantastic.
‘Eden
had that magic that the top ones have, especially in big matches.
Obviously it was fundamental for us, but I think (Gary) Cahill made an
amazing block on a (Radamel) Falcao shot. JT was amazing. The keeper was
great.
‘(Cesar)
Azpilicueta was, for me, the best player on the pitch. (Nemanja) Matic
worked like an animal. (Kurt) Zouma put (Marouane) Fellaini outside the
game. The number 11 (Didier Drogba) was another animal fighting against
two kids with age to be his son.
‘Oscar
worked fantastically well, Ramires came in and gave what we need, even
(John Obi) Mikel came in and he holds the ball. And Willian was in bed
for two days and comes here directly from his house and put himself
available to give a little help. It’s fantastic.’
