Mourinho wary of late twists

JOSE MOURINHO has lauded Chelsea’s consistency as his side bid to wrap up a wire-to-wire Premier League victory.

The Blues have led or shared the lead since the opening round of fixtures and entered this weekend seven points clear with eight matches remaining, beginning at QPR today.

‘To be top of the league since day one shows consistency, stability, confidence and a brave approach to every game,’ Mourinho said. ‘We are there, we deserve to be there, but every game is difficult. And we still have eight matches to play.’

Mourinho knows the Premier League – a championship more competitive than Italy’s Serie A or Spain’s Primera Division, in his opinion – can throw up twists and turns in the closing weeks.

The Blues boss wasn’t surprised to see Manchester City slip up at Crystal Palace last Monday to all but end their title hopes.

Mourinho added: ‘This is the Premier League. In other competitions it’s difficult to believe that the top team can lose four, five, six, seven matches.

‘In almost every country it’s very difficult for a top team to lose so many matches.

‘Here, yes. It’s possible. I’m not surprised. It’s happening to everybody. Everybody loses matches, everybody loses points.’

However, QPR boss Chris Ramsey believes today’s derby is more crucial to his side than it is to Mourinho’s. The Rs are just a point off the foot of the table despite taking four points from their previous two fixtures.

And, with games running out, Ramsey feels Chelsea’s lead at the top means the game takes on extra significance for the hosts.

‘It’s a big game for us,’ he said. ‘They can afford to have a blip and still win the league but on the flip side, we need to pick up every point we can.’

Defender Clint Hill enjoyed the taste of victory in his first west London derby when QPR won 1-0 at home to Chelsea in 2011.

‘I think we shocked them that day. If we can show the same desire both on and off the pitch then hopefully we can get a result again. Nobody expects us to win.

‘We are playing Chelsea who are top of the Premier League and if you can’t get up for that challenge then there’s something wrong.’