Sunday, 19th January, 2014
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has all but written off Manchester United's Premier League title chances after his side put David Moyes' men to the sword 3-1 at Stamford Bridge earlier today.
Mourinho's side were 2-0 up by half-time following a brace from Samuel Eto'o, then ended the match as a contest just four minutes into the second half when the Cameroon international completed his hat-trick.
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Manchester United did pull one back through Javier Hernandez in the 78th minute, but the damage had been done and the reigning champions slipped to their seventh league defeat of the season.
Now the Red Devils are 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal, 13 behind second-placed Manchester City and 12 off Chelsea in third; Manchester United sit seventh.
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And for Mourinho, that is their title defence over.
"It is hard, they are 14 points behind Arsenal, 13 behind Manchester City and 12 from us", he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
"Maybe one team collapses but for three to collapse is difficult, so for them I think it is the fight to finish in the top four.
"They will do that with their pride and tradition and fight and hopefully they win against the other contenders because now we do not play against them in the league."
Next up for Manchester United is the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Sunderland. They are 2-1 down from the first leg.
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