Chelsea on the march
There is something ominous about Chelsea sitting only two points behind Arsenal at the half-way stage despite failing to reach their previous standards in Mourinho's second coming. That the Blues' three defeats this season have come against teams outside the title race raises doubts about their credentials, but there is an argument that they have shown the greatest ability to adapt thus far.
In grinding out dull draws against Manchester United and Arsenal - as well as the hard-earned point at Tottenham - Chelsea have shown that their former resolve hasn't completely disintegrated following some nervy defensive displays. They came close to a third victory in succession at the Emirates through a counter-attacking system that also saw off Schalke in impressive fashion in the Champions League, but Mourinho changed his approach for the meeting with Liverpool when the Blues were required to press more readily.
The victories over Liverpool and Manchester City (which came somewhat fortuitously) have proved that Mourinho can meet attacking demands despite being hindered by a strike force that have mustered only six goals in a combined total of 33 appearances. And of course, there is a chance that Chelsea could splurge in January, with Falcao, Diego Costa and, oddly, Gonzalo Higuain all linked in recent weeks.
The Blues also possess an advantage in Mourinho's crafty approach to the big matches, with the manager playing his hand perfectly following the win over Liverpool. By suggesting that Brendan Rodgers is perhaps a little naive ("When I was Brendan's age...") and arguing that Luis Suarez should have been booked for diving, Mourinho's comments were clearly designed to grate, as were his claims that Arsenal are boring and love to cry following the draw at the Emirates. Getting underneath the skin of his opponents is something he has managed throughout his career and it's the competitive side of Mourinho we love to see.
