QPR vs Chelsea: Jose Mourinho - 'I don’t want to think about losing the Premier League title'

Mourinho claims Chelsea have learned from blowing the title run-in last season

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho claims Chelsea have learned from blowing the title run-in last season, and hinted the lessons from that may have been behind his determination to build up a healthy early lead in this campaign. The Portuguese said he is greatly enjoying the “isolated” position Chelsea are in at the top, that means they have no dependence on other results.

Mourinho’s side were last year in a much tighter race and paid for an inability to break down weaker sides, as they lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland and also drew 0-0 with Norwich City at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho referenced that defeat to Sunderland, which ensured the title was no longer in Chelsea’s own hands. Fabio Borini scored a controversial late penalty to seal victory for the away side in what was Mourinho’s first league defeat at The Bridge. Now, even if they lose at QPR today, Chelsea would still have a cushion.

“Don’t make me remember the game against Sunderland because that was the game which stopped us fighting for the title,” Mourinho said, referencing the contentious refereeing decisions.

“What happened against Sunderland is something we cannot control. We don’t want to think about it. Last season we were depending on others. We needed this team to lose a couple of points here, a couple of points there. This situation is different. Everybody learns with experiences. If you leave the experiences, you don’t reflect and catch the opportunities to try to be better and stronger, it’s a big mistake.”

Asked whether his players now expected to win the title, Mourinho said the important issue was to just concentrate on their own job – which is facilitated by a formidable lead.

“We spoke about it. We don’t want to be influenced by anything. And we are in a position where we can be isolated of everything. We don’t have to be watching [Manchester] City against Man United. We don’t have to be waiting for what they are going to do. We are in a situation where I think it’s good. We just think about ourselves. I know that Man United play Man City and Arsenal play at Burnley, but I know the same way I know that Tottenham plays Aston Villa and Fulham plays against Wigan. I know because I know, not because I’m worried. That creates a very good situation for us as we just think about ourselves.

“We have a game on Sunday. We know the opponent. We know the players. We know the stadium. We know everything. We know it will be difficult but we just focus on that. When QPR match finishes, then we think about what next. I like this situation about being isolated of everything. It’s just us.”

Mourinho also claimed that the current Premier League is “more difficult now than ever” to win. “It’s my fifth or sixth Premier League that I play. It is more difficult than ever.”

QPR v Chelsea is on Sky Sports 1 today, kick-off 1.30pm