Mourinho sees bright side

English FA Premiership/ Chelsea 1 Birmingham City 1: Chelsea let points slip on Saturday but everything still lay securely in their hands.

Their grasp on the Premiership is as tenacious as ever and, despite this draw, they will be champions if they win their next two league matches, against Arsenal and Fulham at home. The club also look likely to hold on to their manager.

Weekend reports project his future earnings at anything up to £10 million a year. Jose Mourinho did no more than raise his eyebrows when asked about the new contract. The reticence indicates discussions are still in progress but, whatever the offer is, he seemed minded to stay at Stamford Bridge.

It is known he was angered by Chelsea's refusal to prolong the fight against the Uefa charges that led to his two-match touchline ban but Mourinho smothered his own irritation after this draw. "My commitment to the team and the club hasn't altered in any way," he claimed. "Of course not. Why should it be different?"

Chelsea, with their 4-2 lead over Bayern Munich, are the likelier team to come through tomorrow's second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. If the Premiership can be tidied away, Mourinho's side would be able to concentrate on Europe's greatest prize. In contrast to last week's first leg, which he watched from an undisclosed location, the manager has chosen to attend in person in Munich. "I will be somewhere in the stadium - maybe in the stand or in a box," he said.

Few managers have such faith in their own ability to influence a match and it is a talent badly needed at Chelsea, who have mislaid their knack of keeping clean sheets. Mourinho would prefer, even so, to reflect on a surprising lack of difficulties.

"Maybe the season has been better than anyone could dream about, including me," he said. "I always thought we could win the league but to have an 11-point lead with a month to go is better than I thought we could do."

Considering Chelsea had just required Didier Drogba's late equaliser to dodge a defeat, it was odd Mourinho should act like the MC at an awards ceremony. He went on to propose Frank Lampard and John Terry for the footballer of the year honours in Europe and England.

On Saturday Chelsea were humdrum. Jaded after the first leg with Bayern and conscious of a return game almost upon them, they had barely any space left in their minds for Birmingham, who covered well and were ready to react when they realised how shabbily covered the Chelsea back four was.

Mourinho rested Claude Makelele, whom he nominates as Chelsea's player of the year, while Alexey Smertin, filling the holding role in midfield, was taken off at the interval. There was a brittleness to the side, even if no one imagined it would be Petr Cech who snapped.

The goalkeeper began to go for Jermaine Pennant's 66th- minute free-kick but then dropped his arms, as if believing the ball would go behind, and Matthew Upson was unhindered as he headed back for Walter Pandiani to finish.

A listless Chelsea, with Joe Cole clipping a post and Lampard just failing to reach a Tiago cut-back, had threatened spasmodically in the first half but a recovery from going behind challenged weary players to whip up prolonged aggression.

Chelsea were able to mount that onslaught and the substitute Drogba slid a shot into the corner of the net after being fed by Lampard in the 83rd minute.

Guardian Service