Leicester vs Chelsea: Jose Mourinho sees a tipping point if Leicester rise can be halted

The two stories of the season so far come together on Monday night

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (GETTY IMAGES)

After a few minutes talking about his fears for British managers, and an afternoon discussing the threat of Jamie Vardy and Leicester City, Jose Mourinho suddenly changed tack. He was asked how to approach such situations – especially if you are a young coach in trouble.

“I think the best thing is not to fear,” Mourinho said. “I think the best way is not to cry. I think the best way is to work, and to get the opportunities you have, and use the opportunities you have to try to get there.”

The Chelsea manager was speaking in general terms but there are some around his squad who say this change in attitude specifically applies to his approach in the last few weeks, and has been responsible for the champions’ slight upturn in form.

It is said Mourinho stopped becoming so concerned with the noise around all the club’s troubles. Realising there was a danger of losing his hold on the squad, he had individual meetings with senior players to talk things out, knowing they could influence the rest.

It has played into a much improved defensive record, with Glenn Murray’s fortuitous strike for Bournemouth the only goal they have conceded in their last five matches. Chelsea can stand a little more assuredly at the King Power Stadium on Monday, although the question is how far they can step up.

In many ways, Monday's game can be one of the season’s tipping points. If Leicester City win, it will be their first big scalp of the season, and propel their surge at just the point when most surprise sides start to level out. It would also plunge Chelsea back into crisis – and closer to the relegation zone – given that it would be a second successive league defeat.

Should the champions win, however, it will be their first big away win of the season, and give a sense of the campaign starting to right itself: Chelsea coming back to form, Leicester starting to fall.

Whatever their defensive improvement, Mourinho’s side need to start scoring goals. He has been working hard in training on attacking moves with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, and the latter is confident his goals will begin to flow again.

Mourinho dismissed recent speculation that the Spain international wants to return to Atletico Madrid, insisting he is happy at Chelsea.

“He didn’t say that,” Mourinho said of the Atletico link. “He said that in football you never know. Filipe Luis was one example [who went back], he could say also Fernando Torres, another example. Atletico is a great club. Madrid is a great city, La Liga is a very good league, so why not, a player 28 years old not to think that in football it’s possible to be back?

“He’s happy here, he likes to be here. He’s another one that has three more years contract. I see him staying at Chelsea for three more years, no problem. I see that.”

Asked whether Costa could be a Didier Drogba figure, Mourinho laughed: “Well, Drogba was here for 10 years; I don’t see Diego to play until 38. I don’t see.”

Mourinho himself looked relaxed again, a reflection of how the anxiety has eased after qualifying for the Champions League last 16. Chelsea now just need to apply proper pressure on Leicester. It could alleviate a lot of fears.