No Progression for Chelsea

Koen Freriks

24 april 2006, 18:25

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that the club have failed to improve over the last 12 months.

The Blues won the title at a canter last season and have done worse this season with Manchester United stepping up the challenge. Although they appear to have retained the championship Chelsea have not yet, mathematically. Chelsea exited the FA cup on Saturday after losing 2-1 to new favourites Liverpool at Old Trafford. They failed to progress in the Champions League after losing to favourites Barcelona and crashed out of the League Cup early this season. Mourinho said that the players have lost some enthusiasm since last season.

"I wouldn't say we are better than last season, no - we have not improved psychologically." said the Portugese manager. "The motivation was bigger in the first season, the enthusiasm was bigger, the enjoyment from people not believing we could do it was bigger." The outspoken coach revieled that he believed that setting such a strong pace at the start of the season has effected them over the latter period. "This season was very easy from the beginning," he added "By October or November the distance between us and the rest was very, very, very big."