Jose urges hot Spurs to keep Blues in their sights

JOSE MOURINHO is desperate for his Tottenham side to stay in touch with Chelsea before the pair come together in the Premier League later this month.

Spurs were 12 points behind Mourinho’s former club and struggling to stay in contention for Champions League qualification when he took the job 11 days ago, but back-to-back league wins and successive losses for Chelsea have seen that gap cut to six.

Fourth-placed Chelsea visit Tottenham on December 22 for what is sure to be a mouthwatering clash and Mourinho wants his side to still be within touching distance. Spurs face Manchester United away, Burnley at home and Wolves away before then, while Chelsea host Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with a trip to Everton in between.

‘We play Chelsea at the end of December. If the game was tomorrow, we would play them with six points difference. It would be a fantastic situation to play them,’ Mourinho said after his side beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday.

‘But we play them in the end of December. We have to keep close, as close as possible. But we have a lot to work [on] and a lot to improve.’ Spurs are at least back in the race for another top-four finish, something that looked shaky until Mourinho (pictured) replaced Mauricio Pochettino.

The Portuguese has reignited Spurs since his arrival and hopes the forthcoming schedule can see them continue their march up the table.

‘When I arrived we were 12 points behind the last Champions League position and I didn’t want to think about it, I just wanted to play matches,’ he said.

‘I think we were eight or nine from a Europa

League position and I said if we thought about it too much we would be depressed because we want to play European football next season.

‘So, don’t get depressed, play game after game and see what is going to happen. Now the distance is smaller we are going into a period with lots of matches, the Christmas period is match, match, match, match.

‘So you have the chance of both. You have the chance to break down, we have the chance to put pressure on the rivals.’ it’s something we need to do and keep fighting to contest for the Premier League.

‘That’s the main goal and everyone’s dream. That dream should remain and we still have to fight for everyone. I’m sure the fans and everyone involved in the club is doing the same.

‘We can do it. It’s been done before, we need to be positive and keep believing in our team.’

Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne twice fired City in front at St James’ Park only for Jetro Willems and Jonjo Shelvey to promptly equalise.

Stones admitted: ‘It’s disappointing. We should have come out with the three points. It’s a difficult one to take.’