Playing for the first time in the league without star striker Diego Costa, the Premier League leaders were expected to slip up against Crystal Palace, who are formidable at home. In fact, Chelsea lost 1-0 at the end of last season at this very same ground after which Mourinho claimed that Chelsea lacked the ‘balls’ to win.

Mourinho believes that their 2-1 win over Palace is proof that his side have become better this season. According to the Daily Mail, he said, “What is obvious – what you all feel – is that we are a better team than last season. There is a clear evolution. It’s not based on the fact that we bought two fantastic players [Costa and Cesc Fabregas].”

He also claimed that with this point advantage [Chelsea lead the table by five points], his side would have won the title in any other country. He said, “If you were in another league I would say immediately ‘yes, we’ll do it’. In the Premier League the only thing I can say is that we can do it. In the Premier League it is stupid to say you’re going to do it because there are so many good teams and a long way to go – some very difficult runs in front of us.”