Mourinho growing in confidence

The confidence of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is tonight soaring and he is firmly of the belief his side are going to win the Barclays Premiership.

Chelsea are now eight points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United – and with a game in hand – following a 3-1 victory at Norwich and a goalless draw for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side at Crystal Palace.

The United result came through 20 minutes before the Blues kicked off at Carrow Road, so Mourinho’s side were aware of their task as they took to the pitch against the Canaries.

Victory was not as straightforward as they would have hoped as battling Norwich gave them a scare, but in the end the points were comfortably won.

Mourinho, when asked if he now believed his side would win the title, said: “If I say I believe then you say I am arrogant.

“But I will say the same as I did before Manchester United drew their game - we have an advantage. It was six points and now it is eight with one game in hand.”

Chelsea took a 22nd-minute lead with a stunning Joe Cole strike from the edge of the area only for Norwich to hit back in the 64th minute when Leon McKenzie flicked home a Darren Huckerby pass.

But Chelsea proved their mettle as they quickly responded with two goals in seven minutes, first from substitute Mateja Kezman two minutes after his arrival, and a first for the club from Ricardo Carvalho.

Chelsea will play their game in hand against West Brom next week while Manchester United are involved in the FA Cup.

Mourinho added: “With a draw against them we will go to nine points and with a win we go to 11.

“So if we don’t lose against West Brom in our next game we go back to being in a very comfortable situation we have to control.

“If we do lose a game or we draw then it is a normal situation for a team who has an advantage like we have.

“But we are very confident we are going to win the championship.”

For City, they are now staring relegation in the face as they are six points adrift of safety following Palace’s point against United.

Manager Nigel Worthington appreciates his side are in a difficult position, and although managing to find positives from this latest defeat, feels there is no one to stop Chelsea from marching to the title.

“I thought the focus, attitude and determination of my team was first class,” said Worthington.

“We had a shape and a plan and we stuck to it, and although I am disappointed with their first goal, we kept our belief and got back into the game.

“But that’s when we upset them because I turned around and saw Kezman and (Eidur) Gudjohnsen warming up and I thought, ’Oh no, here we go’.

“But that’s the strength of that football club and their team because although we gave them a little bit of a fright and we were good value for money, they are quality.

“My lads worked their socks off, but thereafter the quality Chelsea possess came through and that showed when they took (Didier) Drogba and Tiago off and brought the other two boys on.

“As a team they are solid, patient, relentless and I can understand why they are top of the league.

“I think, hand on heart, they will probably go on to win the league.”