Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea’s 20-match unbeaten start to the season means they will not be affected by the first defeat he believes is “inevitable”.
Mourinho has previously said he thinks it will be impossible for them to remain undefeated in the Premier League this term.
Avoiding a loss against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday would see the Blues stretch their unbeaten league run this season to 14 games.
With the team top of the league, certain of finishing top of their Champions League group and through to the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup, the Chelsea boss said confidence was understandably high.
“When the defeat arrives we have to feel the same,” he said “One bad result will not change our self-belief and self-esteem.
“Not losing a match for four months, the team has to feel very well.”
Chelsea have not lost at home to Spurs since 1990 when former England striker Gary Lineker, now 54, scored a last-minute winner.
“Tomorrow he can’t,” Mourinho joked when asked about Chelsea’s incredible home record against their rivals, adding that the run – which stretches back 24 years – will count for nothing.
But he said he was relishing another London derby, having won all three of their previous games against opposition from the capital this season.
“It is the same as the others,” said Mourinho, whose side have beaten Crystal Palace, Arsenal and QPR so far this term.
“It’s a big game, a London derby against a good team – one of the top teams in the league and we like it. They are a difficult team and we have to be ready for it.”
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This post was last modified on 02/12/2014