Jose Mourinho Discusses Chelsea's Premier League Title Hopes After Norwich Win

Jose Mourinho has suggested Chelsea's chances of retaining the Premier League title won last season is an "impossible mission," and one worthy of franchise film star Tom Cruise.

Speaking after Chelsea beat Norwich City 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to move to 15th in the table, per the league's official website, Mourinho still played down any title talk.

According to Goal's Stephen Darwin, Mourinho summed up his side's title chances like this: "If you ask me about the title, I would say impossible mission. Maybe Tom Cruise could do it."

Under ordinary circumstances, this would read like classic manager speak, a thinly veiled attempt to ease pressure by lowering expectations. But in this case, Mourinho's rather bleak view may be genuine, and justifiably so.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press/Associated Press

After all, his team is still 14 points off the top. At the moment, Leicester City are surprisingly setting the pace. To many, though, the unusual look to the top of the table may still offer hope for the defending champions.

Some of the more consistent contenders have started to slip up as Chelsea have floundered in recent weeks. In particular, London rivals Arsenal have taken just one point from their last two league games after losing 2-1 away at West Bromwich Albion, per BBC Sport's Saj Chowdhury.

If Chelsea are going to take advantage more often, the Blues must be more ruthless and efficient in front of goal. Despite earning a welcome three points, Mourinho noted how his side spurned too many promising chances, according to the club's official Twitter feed:

Speaking with Sky Sports (h/t Darwin), Mourinho was more specific about his team's profligacy:

"

We hit the post immediately after the 1-0 [which would have] killed the game. And then because the situation is fragile, where we think everything goes against us and we are never lucky, we put ourselves in a position in the last four minutes where they had a throw-in, a corner, a rebound and you can lose two points.

"

A more efficient Chelsea attack needs striker Diego Costa back to his best. So Mourinho will be delighted the Spain international bagged the winner against the Canaries.

It ended quite a drought for Costa, as noted by OptaJoe:

With Costa back on form, the Blues have the firepower to still be players in this season's title race.

There's next-to-no margin for error, but no team featuring Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian and Cesc Fabregas can be counted out just yet. No team with those players needs help from Cruise, either.