• Premier League

Chelsea driven by champions' mentality, says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho singled out Nemanja Matic as a 'giant' of the game © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho hailed Chelsea's mental strength after his side continued their unbeaten run at the top of the Premier League table with victory against Liverpool this weekend.

The manager also had high praise for the "giant" Nemanja Matic, who reportedly led the pre-match team-talk before Chelsea came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Anfield, their ninth win in 11 league fixtures.

Azpilicueta hails summer arrivals

Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates a goal with Chelsea team-mates © Getty Images

• Cesar Azpilicueta echoed the words of his manager Jose Mourinho by saying Chelsea's mental toughness is powering them to victory in the Premier League.
  
  Chelsea have set a new club record by going unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions and Azpilicueta paid tribute to the summer signings who have helped take the club to another level.
  
  "I think we are stronger mentally now," he said. "The players who came have given us another dimension as well.
  
  "The whole squad know we have to fight together. Some players have more talent, some score goals, and sometimes we have to defend for them - but the main thing is we do it all as a team.
  
  "Over the last few games maybe we haven't played our best football and the scores have been tight, but over the whole season you know that everyone can't keep playing very well and winning easy."

Gary Cahill and Diego Costa were on target to cancel out Emre Can's opener for Liverpool and, when asked after the game what had made the difference, Mourinho simply tapped his temple.

"It think it's the mentality," he said. "It's not in the legs because players who did not play during the week have more energy in the legs than people who played. That's obvious. So I think what makes the difference is inside.

"I was a champion in different countries with different clubs and there are points that are always present. I had it at Porto, at Inter Milan and at Real Madrid. I had it here in my first spell and I'm having it now. It's something that you have to have always - people who are always ready to sacrifice themselves for their team, people that push to help. I'm so pleased about that."

Liverpool spent £40 million more than Chelsea this summer, but Mourinho's men have been unstoppable, with Costa pouncing for his 10th goal in the league at Anfield. Mourinho insisted that his business in the transfer window was one of the reasons why his team have progressed.

"We got players to improve the team, not the squad," he said. "The team had an evolution in everything from last season, they have learned a lot. They know each other well, they are adapted to my personality, I am adapted to them, they are getting experience - we are a better team."

Mourinho also hailed Matic who, according to team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta, led the team-talk in the Anfield dressing room, where he "said that if we wanted to be champions we had to come to these sort of stadiums and win".

"At this moment he's a giant, not for his size but for the way he plays," Mourinho said of the midfielder. "The man is a giant."

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