Mourinho's men march on knowing they have what it takes to win Premiership title.

(From Canberra Times)

Jose Mourinho has lost only two competitive matches in 2004 but the Chelsea manager's greatest achievement to date might well be building a side at Stamford Bridge which, he admits, no longer needs the tough talking of their manager to continue its remorseless winning streak.

In 12 months, Mourinho has done what most managers wait a lifetime to achieve: he has won the European Cup, the Portuguese league title and amassed a five-point lead in the Premiership at the turn of the year.

Before tonight's visit to Anfield he confirmed that Chelsea's confidence has become self-perpetuating and, with a run of 11 games undefeated, his players do not need their manager to tell them they have hit title-winning form.

''The players believe we can win it, at this moment, they don't need me,'' Mourinho said.

''I think at the beginning of the season they needed me to convince them. But they have self-confidence and the way they feel and work, the way they go to every match shows they don't need me for that belief.

''What happened to us after we lost at Manchester City was a big answer.