Moaning Mourinho knows exactly what he is doing

COMMENT: The Portuguese boss raged at what he called a ‘campaign’ against his club, but is clearly just laying a siege mentality ahead of the tough months ahead
His words and demeanour gave no hints as he railed passionately against the “campaign” that will dominate Monday’s headlines, but make no mistake – Jose Mourinho is a happy man.
In spite of an intense, controversial and ultimately frustrating afternoon at St Mary’s, Chelsea will go into 2015 as Premier League leaders. They, and Mourinho, have never failed to win the title from this position.
Manchester City remain within striking distance, but the phrase “kicking themselves” doesn’t quite seem to do their situation justice. Burnley’s remarkable comeback from two goals down to snatch only their 16th point of the season at the Etihad Stadium ensured Manuel Pellegrini’s men stay three points behind the frontrunners.
Mourinho showed no reaction when informed of the scoreline as he left his post-match press conference – he had entered the room in angry mode and wasn’t breaking character for anyone – but the Portuguese would have been entitled to punch the air with joy once out of sight.
In a title race like this, draws can be almost as damaging as defeats. Chelsea have already visited the Etihad, Old Trafford and Anfield and, at the halfway stage, are still on course for 92 points, the highest total since Mourinho brought his first league crown to Stamford Bridge in 2004-05 and the second highest in Premier League history. Within that context, City entering the New Year a point behind them would have been highly impressive and more than a little ominous.
As it is, Chelsea enjoy three points of breathing space and Mourinho has time to indulge his conspiracy theories. The idea that Anthony Taylor’s decision to book Cesc Fabregas was the result of his team being subjected to an unfair level of diving scrutiny in recent weeks is, of course, ridiculous, but it effectively deflects any criticism of a performance that fell slightly below Chelsea’s imperious best.
It also helps create the kind of siege mentality that has served Mourinho so well in various league battles around Europe throughout his phenomenal career. Is it such a coincidence that he has voiced his concerns at the very moment that this brutal festive run of four matches in 11 days has taken its first tangible toll on his side? A resurgent Tottenham at White Hart Lane lie in wait on New Years’ Day and a sense of righteous indignation could go a long way towards compensating for tired Chelsea legs.
City will have no such burning sense of injustice to spur them on when they face Sunderland, having been the architects of their own demise against Burnley. “It is clear we couldn’t keep the same intensity,” Manuel Pellegrini opined gloomily after witnessing his team’s bizarre second-half collapse.
December was always going to be a crucial month. City managed to narrow the gap from eight points to three by capitalising on Chelsea’s two mis-steps in the north East, while Manchester United managed to cobble together enough consecutive wins to convince themselves that they, too, might be involved.
But Mourinho’s men have seemingly navigated the worst and emerged with more than a nose in front, thanks in part to City dropping two points from what appeared to be one of the most bankable games on their fixture list. If Yaya Toure is as keenly missed as expected while away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Sergio Aguero can’t remain healthy from the second half of January until mid-May, Pellegrini might well look back on the Burnley blunder as a decisive moment.
Both Chelsea and City have amassed 88 Premier League points in 2014. The Premier League’s two most dominant sides have competed on equal footing since Mourinho’s return and there is no reason to think the landscape will shift anytime soon, but the coming of 2015 will be greeted with greater optimism in the west of London than the east of Manchester.