Mourinho raises stakes in mind games with Ferguson

JOSE MOURINHO has warned Manchester United the hard work starts here if Alex Ferguson’s men are to hold off his defending champions and take the Barclays Premiership title back to Old Trafford.

Ricardo Carvalho’s second-half equaliser ensured Chelsea kept their main rivals within touching distance – and Mourinho is convinced United will face an even bigger challenge after Christmas.

Chelsea boss Mourinho said: “It is positive for us because we know in the second half of the season United have to go to Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. I think they will have a difficult time.”

With the mind games already in full swing between the two Premiership titans, Mourinho insists his side have secured the mental edge by avoiding falling any further behind Ferguson’s men.

And he could hardly over-state the importance of Carvalho’s header as he begins preparing his champions for an unappetising trip to buoyant third-placed Bolton tomorrow night.

Instead of the prospect of needing to win at the Reebok Stadium simply to keep in touch, Chelsea could conceivably find themselves drawing level on points at the top with United. Mourinho added: “The human feeling is more positive for us than for them. They were playing at home in front of 76,000 fans and in an unbelievable atmosphere.

“They had the chance to open up a big gap to Arsenal and a medium one to us and they couldn’t do it. My feeling is they will be frustrated. A point is always better for the team that was behind.”

However Mourinho will not get complacent in his search for a third consecutive title, and is aware United will possess a more potent attacking threat in most of the big games to come.

He added: “The problem with their bench is they have no attacking players because they have Solskjaer and Park injured. With them back, it is a very strong bench too.

“Maybe they have a better squad than us in defensive terms because I do not have that many defenders. They have more solutions in defence and we have more solutions in attack.”

Mourinho will check on his players’ fitness ahead of the trip to Bolton, but expects his personal man-of-the-match Carvalho to start, despite his recent battle with an ankle injury.

The Portuguese international was rated a major doubt for the Old Trafford trip after struggling all week, but fine work from Chelsea’s medical staff ensured he passed a late fitness test.”I saw Ricardo’s ankle after the West Ham game and I saw him three days ago and I didn’t think he had the possibility to play,” added Mourinho.

“There was an improvement and at the last moment he was ready to play. I said I was happy because I wanted to show confidence and a positive image but I didn’t know if he would play.

“For me he was man of the match. He was fantastic defensively and also scored an important goal.”