Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho: Winning title would eclipse 2005 success

Jose Mourinho believes that beating five other rivals to the Premier League title would be a greater achievement than his first triumph with Chelsea in 2005.

The Blues are currently third in the Premier League after ending their two-game winless run with an emphatic 3-0 victory over West Ham United at Upton Park last weekend.

Chelsea currently trail league leaders Arsenal by four points but reside a mere three points ahead of defending champions and sixth-placed Manchester United.

And Mourinho, who sealed a return to the Stamford Bridge in June, acknowledged that there are very fine margins in this season’s instalment of the English top flight.

“To win when the club is not historically a winner is a hard step to give – 2004 was a hard step to make. But winning the title this season will be a greater achievement,” said Mourinho.

He continued: “It’s different [to my first reign]. The competition is different. The teams are different.

“There had been just three teams fighting for the title. Now we are six.

“The difference between the three and the rest was big distance [in 2004-05]. At this moment the distance is short.

“The distance between the current six and the next three or four is also short. It’s difficult. Nobody knows what can happen.”

Mourinho also sympathised with Andre Villas-Boas amid increasing pressure being placed on the Tottenham boss after a poor run of form which has left the north London side in ninth.

“In this league, if losing two matches is a reason to be under pressure, I think everyone will be under pressure because everyone will lose two matches; or lose one, win one, lose again – it will happen to everyone,” he continued.

“The situation of five or six consecutive wins won’t happen. I think people have to understand how it is. I did 100 points with Real Madrid. In the Premier League… I don’t know. But I would say maybe a team with 66 points can win [it this season].”