Chelsea were perfect, says Mourinho

SWANSEA. — Jose Mourinho said Chelsea had produced the “perfect” performance after a 5-0 win away to Swansea City on Saturday saw them extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League.

Oscar and Diego Costa both scored twice in the first half at the Liberty Stadium to leave Chelsea 4-0 up before the break and substitute Andre Schurrle added a fifth goal 11 minutes from time.

Victory saw Chelsea move five points clear of Manchester City at the summit ahead of the champions’ match at home to Arsenal yesterday.

“It was a perfect performance,” said Chelsea manager Mourinho, whose side made light of a potentially awkward encounter in south Wales. “The way everything went our way was just perfect.”

Chelsea may have scored five goals but their Portuguese boss praised the Blues’ defence, adding: “I thought the team played very well. JT (John Terry), (Branislav) Ivanovic, they all played well. They were solid defensively and the team showed real ambition.

“The team has a clear identity. Sometimes you have good teams who play well, but without a clear identity. This team has been going in a certain direction and with a certain identity,” Mourinho said.

“I am pleased with that. However, I keep saying that if you play fantastically well, but don’t win cups, in 20 years time nobody will remember you. Yes, we are playing well, but we have to win competitions.

“It’s a young team with many years in front of them,” said Mourinho. “However, we are trying to make history this season.

“Every game is different and this game, for Swansea, was a difficult one to prepare for because they were without three players in the same position (midfielders Ki Sung-yeung, Jonjo Shelvey and Leon Britton were all missing due to the Asia Cup, suspension and injury respectively).

“It would be the same for us if we had to play without (Cesc) Fabregas, (Nemanja) Matic and Jon Mikel Obi. They (Swansea) are a team who like to play football from the back, but when you don’t have these players, it becomes a problem,” Mourinho explained.

“Still, I thought we were clever. We pressed them in that area and we were aggressive in recovering the ball.”

Mourinho insisted Chelsea’s latest victory had not made Manchester City’s task against Arsenal at Eastlands more difficult for Manuel Pellegrini’s men. “I don’t think Man City feel pressure. Like them, we have to win every game. We feel the responsibility.”

Chelsea led inside a minute through Oscar and were rarely tested in a one-sided game, with their display labelled “devastating” by Swansea manager Garry Monk. — AFP.