Mourinho: Chelsea's 'advantage is significant' in the five-horse race for the Premier League title

And now, for the latest on the title race, we go trackside to our resident horse racing expert, Mr. Jose Mourinho.

"We are in front, the advantage is not half a body, the advantage is significant, but still a long way to go. We are there, we are strong, we are confident. We believe in our capacity to stay there until the last match. We know we fight against that word you [the media] use so many times - complacency - the best way to fight is to know there is a long way to go."

Having spent all of last season tending to little horses, Mourinho's graduated to the big time and he's relishing the fact that his now not-so-little horses have led from the front all season.

"I think it's still five [in the title race], because the distance is still mathematically possible. The fifth, the fourth, don't have to fight against one, they have to overcome three. The distance is so short and mathematically I see that things are open."

"It's become something normal for us this season to know that we are top of the league. [...] We have a good situation in our hands and the way we worked last week and the way we worked this week, the players are very confident."

Before you get all mad that Jose's brought back the little horses metaphor, I should point out that it was the particular journalist who asked the question, whoever he was, the one who brought it up in the first place.  Mourinho wasn't really in a playful or even snarky mood in Friday's press conference.  It was all very matter-of-fact and straightforward.

"If the other teams can make 27, I need 22 [points]. We go for it. We are still far, but we are closer than ever. Everybody believes that we are going to do that."

This time there's no doubt about the calculations.  Our magic number is 22.  Seven wins and a draw from ten.  Let's go!

(NB. No, you do NOT get to ask questions that go against the family.)