Solace at last for troubled Mourinho

But surprise package Leicester will test his mettle tomorrow

FORGET the turning point clichés, Chelsea are too far back in the English Premier League for their result against FC Porto in the Champions League this week to be an instant cure.

The circle of life took José Mourinho back to where it all started, with Porto on the pitch, which must have been a relief, because lately the Chelsea boss has been stuck in a place he had never been before. That new world is the bottom half of the Premier League, with defeats coming like rain drops, and an unfamiliar sense of failure.

Europe is where Mourinho thrust his résumé in football’s face and Europe may now be his place of refuge as he clings to his job at Stamford Bridge.

Tomorrow evening he travels to the English Midlands to face yet another test — against the high-flying and high-riding Leicester City.

Such has been the remarkable transformation that the Foxes, who spent 140 days at rock bottom last season, could justifiably be regarded as favourites to beat a struggling Chelsea side and retain their lead.

When the two sides met at the King Power Stadium on April 29, Chelsea won 3-1 to all but clinch the title and stall Leicester’s ultimately successful relegation escape bid.

Rewind back to the identical stage of last season, after 15 games Chelsea were top with 36 points while Leicester were marooned on 10 and apparently doomed.

Now, Leicester have 32 points to Chelsea’s 15.

A Leicester win tomorrow would mean a 49-point swing in their favour compared to Mourinho’s Chelsea after 16 games of the previous campaign.

And Leicester’s form is clearly no flash in the pan either.

In the last 24 Premier League games, stretching back to last season, they have 54 points, four more than Arsenal and Manchester City during the same period. Chelsea have 35.

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes Leicester, 2000-1 shots before a ball was kicked in August, can sustain their form and become champions.

And the belief is evident throughout a squad which, in Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, boasts the most prolific duo in the top flight, with 24 goals and eight assists between them so far in the league.

“We always think we can score,” winger Marc Albrighton said.

“I think teams fear us a little bit going forward so we know we have that security. We try to keep a clean sheet but, if we can’t, then we know we will go up the other end and score.”

Chelsea’s defence, which has leaked 24 goals so far, will be in for a busy night as Mourinho’s side try to rescue a season that reached a new low when they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth last weekend.

HAND ON HEART: José Mourinho was cheered by both sets of fans as Chelsea beat FC Porto at Stamford Bridge this week

Their eighth defeat in 15 league matches left them two points above the bottom three and their position could look even bleaker after tomorrow’s contest.

Claudio Ranieri, however, is loving life at the top and is curious about what his side can achieve although he still refuses to look beyond ensuring their survival this season.

“Everybody knows us a little more. It’s good for the club, the city and the fans,” Ranieri said ahead of the clash.

“Let me achieve 40 points and then I can tell you what our goal is. It’s a good time to test our team at the moment.

“We want to test our team to see what they can do this season. That’s my goal.”

A win against Mourinho’s men would reinforce the Foxes’ title credentials ahead of a tough run of fixtures before the new year.

“Chelsea

are

Chelsea, Mourinho is Mourinho and I’m sure they will be near the top at the end of the season,” Ranieri said.

“I respect Chelsea a lot. I watched [them win over FC Porto in the Champions League] last night. They played very well and moved it quickly. They are the champions.”

The Foxes are away at Everton and Liverpool after Chelsea, before hosting Manchester City, and while Ranieri boasts the league’s deadliest strike force in Vardy and Mahrez, he is more focused on his team’s defence.

“For us clean sheets are very important. Sooner or later we will score, so if we maintain a clean sheet, we can win,” Ranieri said.

“It’s not important who scores, it’s important that the team scores and that the team plays well.” — ©

A win against The Special One’s men would reinforce the Foxes’ title credentials