English Premier League: Jose Mourinho talks down ‘little horse’ Chelsea

Manager insists his team remains work in progress despite 1-0 win over City.


Afp February 04, 2014
Chelsea hit the woodwork on three occasions, but Branislav Ivanovic’s vicious strike proved to be the decider as they moved level on points with City at 53. PHOTO: AFP

MANCHESTER: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho described his side as ‘the little horse’ in the Premier League title race despite their impressive success over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The underdogs travelled to Manchester knowing that defeat would leave them six points behind City, but they won 1-0 through Branislav Ivanovic’s first-half strike to draw level on points with their rivals.

The two clubs now trail leaders Arsenal by two points with 14 matches of the season remaining, but Mourinho is insistent that his team remain a work in progress.

Asked if the duel for the title was a three-horse race, he replied: “Two horses and a little horse, that still needs milk and learn how to jump. A horse that next season can race.”

When it was put to him that Chelsea, at the very least, stood a chance of winning the league, he replied: “I don’t agree.

“We are a team in evolution, but this is the kind of performance that helps the team to grow up a lot. Tactically, mentally, I think it was fantastic.”

City enjoyed the majority of possession against Chelsea, but it was the visitors who possessed the greater cutting edge.

Meanwhile, City manager Manuel Pellegrini played down the significance of his side’s setback.

“For Chelsea it was a decisive game, not for us,” he said.

“If we won, we were six points ahead of them. Now we are two points behind Arsenal. We have 39 points to play for. We are just thinking about winning the games.”

Chelsea didn’t believe in me: Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge believes his form this season is down to being played in a central attacking role by Brendan Rodgers and has hit out at Chelsea for not having faith in him as a striker, according to ESPN.

Sturridge played under four different managers in his time at Stamford Bridge and was regularly used as a makeshift winger – but has scored 28 goals in 35 games since moving to Liverpool in January 2013.

“I was never sure if I’d play as a striker [at Chelsea] because people didn’t believe in me,” he said.

“When I was playing as a winger at Chelsea I was overthinking it because I wasn’t used to doing it. Now I’m just playing my natural game and doing things off the cuff.

“It’s about that split second when you have to decide whether you do this or do that, whereas now I’m just playing on instinct.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.

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