Chelsea move six points clear at the top of the Premier League after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton, which Jose Mourinho described as a ‘good result’.After the game, Jose spoke to the media, and suggested that the most positive aspect was the extra point gained over Manchester City.
‘We started today’s game well. The penalty changed the rest of the first half, the players felt it and we stopped playing and made a few mistakes. Southampton scared us a couple of times with counter attacks.’
‘But in the second half, especially from the moment Ramires came on, we killed their counter-attacks and they felt that, and after that we had complete control of the game. We created lots of chances to win the game but we didn’t.’
Ramires was brought on in the second half to replace Nemanja Matic, who had a difficult afternoon, particularly after conceding the penalty. Jose explained that Matic was taken off to avoid a second yellow card.
When that penalty is given you have to believe that a second yellow card could come.
‘Against fast people like Mane coming out of midfield driving the ball, if you remember the second yellow card Ramires got against Aston Villa last season, obviously you are afraid.’
The Blues now look onwards to the game against Hull City next Sunday, in what has proven to be a difficult away fixture in recent times. However, Mourinho suggested he is not worried about complacency amongst the squad.
We are not complacent, I am not afraid of that.
‘It is not easy, every match is difficult, and in our two matches against Southampton, in one there was penalty that is not a penalty and in another game a penalty that was not given, so you are speaking about six points becoming two points, so the danger is always here but I keep saying, we are there.’
If somebody told me in August that in March we are six points in front with one game in hand, I would sign for that immediately, no doubts.