Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho issued a challenge to his squad this week, calling for them to deliver in their “moment of truth”, with the league leaders needing five wins and one draw to clinch the title, The Evening Standard reports.
The Blues are far from the team which was destroying everything before them earlier on this season and Mourinho admitted that his side are in a “difficult moment” (via the Mirror).
Saturday’s win against Stoke City was a sign of their current predicament as Chelsea struggled to get over the line and claim all three points. A goalkeeping error eventually handed them the win to re-establish their seven-point lead at the top of the table.
SEE MORE:
Chelsea FC news
Former Chelsea star claims Eden Hazard unbalances side
Chelsea plot shock move for Liverpool pair as Blues look to take advantage of stalled contract talks
“Mentality is important because now is the moment where everything is decided for everything – for relegation, the Champions League places and the title,” Mourinho was quoted as saying.
“You can do amazingly well for seven, eight, nine months but the moment of truth always arrives and the moment of truth for us is get the wins we need to be champions.”
The Portuguese coach may look to the next three fixtures as the defining moment in Chelsea’s season as they face two London derbies against Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal respectively, and a clash with in-form Man United at Stamford Bridge.
Should they come through those matches unscathed, then Mourinho will no doubt be ordering large crates of champagne ready for May 24th.