Mourinho expects Chelsea to win Premier League despite playing down chances in public: Source

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had reportedly told his players that he expects them to win the Premier League title this season, despite playing down their chances in public.

Mourinho ruled out Chelsea from the title race after the win at Manchester City, claiming they were 'little horses' up against the 'Etihad thoroughbreds'.

However, the Mirror reports that a source revealed that Mourinho warned his team about what he would say in the media, adding that in an almost identical speech to one he made to his players during his first spell at Chelsea, he told them he expects them to be champions.

The source further said that Mourinho told his players not to pay any attention to what he says in public as his intention is to take the pressure off the team and put others under the microscope.

Mourinho's title mind games is a ploy he used when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004, when he told his players he would publicly write off their championship hopes but privately insisted they would win the league, the report added.