Only Complacency Can Cost Chelsea and Jose Mourinho the Premier League Title Now

Jose Mourinho may have lost his voice, but it seems he has rediscovered his mojo over the international break.

There was plenty for him to get frustrated with in his press conference on Friday. There were the usual questions about Diego Costa's fitness, with the usual answers rolled out.

"Chelsea don't believe in operations for injuries. They're a last resort," Mourinho explained in much the same way he did after Costa hobbled off during Chelsea's victory over Hull City last time out.

The Chelsea boss was also being asked about quotas being introduced for English players in the Premier League and his views on whether there should be more games kicking off at the traditional 3 p.m. slot on Saturdays.

Unlike recent times, Mourinho batted them off without too much hassle. He wasn't on a charm offensive by any stretch, but he was relaxed—a man far removed from the Mourinho who has been willing to take on TV stations and the football authorities this season.

Even his strained vocal chords couldn't hide it.

"Yesterday's training session was a good one, an intense one. I was also an important part of the training session. [The players] use their legs. I use my voice, so I lost my voice.

...

"We trained so hard and so well, and that is why I am confident for tomorrow [against Stoke City]."

It wasn't so long ago that Mourinho was being asked about complacency creeping into his squad.

Despite leading the way in the Premier League, Chelsea's performance levels have dipped. They've been knocked out of the Champions League and haven't looked quite the same side we have seen at times this term.

Mourinho turned to his press officer sat beside him to ask what "complacency" meant that day. He may speak near-perfect English, but it suggested the whole idea of the definition had never registered with him.

Friday confirmed it.

Chelsea have nine games remaining until the end of the season. As Mourinho correctly highlighted, the points difference at the top means they require just six wins and a draw from their remaining fixtures to guarantee the Premier League trophy will once again reside at Stamford Bridge.

Do that and regardless of what Manchester City and Arsenal achieve, Chelsea are champions.

Mourinho isn't speaking in terms of his team already holding the trophy, though. There is another message he's pushing: Chelsea are good enough, they are talented enough, but there's still work to do.

His players can't rest.

It all seems a little too simple for top-level football, but his hoarse throat shows a manager who truly believes it.

"Maybe because my voice was quiet for the last couple of weeks, I lost it yesterday," Mourinho continued.

Chelsea's squad had been depleted for the best part of a fortnight, so with his first chance to drill his squad in full to ensure every player is ready for the remaining weeks of the season, little time was wasted.

Mourinho confirmed that neither Costa nor the team of medics treating his hamstring injury had time off during the international break.

They've been working around the clock to get him back fit.

Mourinho was happy to express that, outlining how the intensity hasn't dropped at Stamford Bridge.

And for a manager famed for his mind games, it's probably the best one of all to deliver at this stage of the season: Chelsea are ready.

"[Our league position is] a good situation for us," he said. "A situation that all the other clubs would like to be in, but for us, it's pure maths. We have to win six matches and draw one. We need to do that, but we haven't yet.

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"I don't care if we win the league in the hotel or at home. I just want to win it. I think in any occasion in the Premier League, the champions get the trophy in the last match at home, so our last match of the season is at home. If we win the title, we collect the trophy at our house.

"But I don't care, even if somebody loses the trophy and we don't get the trophy, I am happy with that. I just want to win [the league]."

The Premier League is back, and so too is Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea's biggest threat to success may be complacency, but it's off the menu.