• Premier League

Chelsea close to record-breaking best, says Mourinho

Chelsea's Oscar powers past Martin Kelly of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho claims his current Chelsea team are nearing the heights reached by his record-breaking 2004-5 side.

It was a decade ago that Chelsea secured their first league title in 50 years with a record 95 points before going on to defend their crown the following season.

Mourinho's current crop of players are once again setting the pace at the top of the Premier League table and look every inch as dangerous as the 2004-5 vintage, with seven wins from eight games so far.

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While he insisted there was still a long way to go this season, Mourinho claimed he could see signs of title-winning form after their 2-1 victory away to Crystal Palace on Saturday - a fixture that ended in defeat and Mourinho conceding the title last season.

"We are reaching that level," Mourinho said. "My first spell here we had already in the team players with great maturity, great knowledge, great stability. Last year my team was naive, couldn't cope with certain moments of the game, so we work, we work, we work and in this moment I'm happy.

"We are not a perfect team - a long way to go - but in many aspects our team is a better team than last year."

Chelsea strengthened this summer with the additions of leading goalscorer Diego Costa and midfielder Cesc Fabregas, but Mourinho highlighted what he sees as a growing maturity from his young squad.

Costa has scored nine goal so far this season but his struggles with hamstring injuries saw him miss the trip to Selhurst Park.

"There is a general feeling that our team improved because of Diego and [Cesc] Fabregas," Mourinho said. "And it's right and it's true and it's fair to say that. But, at the same time, this team had a big improvement.

"It was good for the group, as a group, to have an important victory without one player that until this moment has scored so many goals and given us so many points."

Mourinho's words were echoed by veteran defender John Terry, who celebrated his 500th game as Chelsea captain in Saturday's victory.

Terry, 33, said he was not thinking about retirement at the moment, instead insisting that Chelsea are determined to lift their third league trophy of his time at the club.

"It's an unbelievable achievement and I'm very proud," Terry said. "I thrive on it. I love it.

"There will be a day when I have to hand it to someone else and I hang up the boots. But I'm feeling great, playing well in a very good side. Long may it continue. We are as strong as anyone and hungry to win the league."

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