Jose Mourinho admits to playing 'mind games' after insisting Chelsea are the 'little horse' in the Premier League title race

Arsenal and Manchester City must still be considered favourites says the Blues boss

Jose Mourinho points out ITV reporter Rags Martel during a Chelsea press conference (GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho today confirmed what everyone knew - he's already started playing mind games in the race for the Premier League title.

The Chelsea manager maintains that his side are not title contenders, even after their victory over Manchester City on Monday.

After that game he described his team as the "little horse" in the title race that, rather bizarrely, is in need of milk and must learn how to jump.

Yet his side are just two points off league leaders Arsenal while his team is made of numerous former Premier League winners and some of the best talents in England, including Oscar, Ramires and Eden Hazard.

When pushed on the subject today, Mourinho explained why Chelsea are not contenders for the title.

"I'm not saying we're not going to win. I'm saying we're not candidates. We're outsiders," he said.

On Manchester City, who are the favourites with bookmakers, the Special One explained: "We're not a squad like City's, where players are in the best moment of their careers, an age of stability between 24, 25, 26 and their 30s, all of them working together for quite a long time."

On Arsenal, who top the table and are the second of the two 'big horses', Mourinho said: "Arsenal are the biggest example of stability, of a manager working with players year after year, working with these guys since they were really young players: Aaron Ramsey, Bacary Sagna, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere. All working with the manager for a long time. We are different. We are beginning."

Yet Mourinho's arguments were quickly rendered questionable when during today's press conference he admitted he is trying to gain a psychological advantage.

"Everything I say and do are mind games. The only thing that is not mind games are the results."

Chelsea play Newcastle this weekend in the Premier League.