Mourinho: Chelsea Christmas fixtures more difficult than title rivals'

Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2014 by Goal.com

The Portuguese coach believes his side have the most testing festive matches to contend with over the coming weeks, facing the likes of Southampton, Tottenham and West Ham

Jose Mourinho has lauded his Chelsea side's performance against Stoke City but has warned his players that they face a testing festive fixture list - especially compared to their title rivals.

Goals from John Terry and Cesc Fabregas sealed a 2-0 victory for the Blues at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night, ensuring that they will be top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day - they have won the title on each of the three occasions that has previously happened.

Mourinho, though, is paying little attention to that particular record and says that his side will have to maintain their form ahead of a tough set of fixtures, including away games at Southampton and Tottenham.

"I don't think that is important. What we did in the past is not important," Mourinho told Sky Sports when reminded of Chelsea's previous title wins after being top at Christmas.

"What's important is this season and this season we are top of the league since day one and we are there because we are playing really well, really well.

"In my opinion we were the best team until this day - that's why we are top of the league.

"We start this period of Christmas knowing that our fixtures are more difficult than any other ones - three matches away: Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham.

"One match at home against big West Ham, because big West Ham - Big Sam - they are doing amazingly well this season.

"We know our opponents, they have different kind of fixtures, so for us it was very important to win tonight."