Chelsea Finally Lose, but No Need to Panic for Jose Mourinho and His Players

It was inevitable, according to Jose Mourinho—impossible to the rest of us.

Believe it or not, Chelsea can lose football matches.

At least now, following their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, all the talk of becoming the Premier League's second set of "Invincibles" can be put to bed.

Records are on hold and we can return to something resembling a debate.

It was all hype anyway, a creation of the media that Chelsea's manager often tried to deflect.

Chelsea dropped three points for the first time since April 19, when Sunderland recorded the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge last season. Like then, Mourinho needs a reaction from his players.

The set up is similar. That loss was followed by a Champions League outing, with Premier League commitments back on the agenda thereafter.

Chelsea face Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday before a home game against struggling Hull City. The stakes were higher in April—it was Atletico Madrid in a semi-final followed by that trip to Anfield to play Liverpool—but the outcome needs to be the same.

The Sunderland defeat was a massive shock, but then look where it took Chelsea—to the top of the Premier League.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

It closed one door on Mourinho's men, who then showed enough character to not just open others, but knock them down.

Chelsea are unrecognisable from the team we saw last season. The Newcastle defeat aside, they have been clinical, entertaining and, above all else, ruthless.

They are the embodiment of their manager.

In December, the Premier League table is telling us porkies. Big fat lies.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Manchester City must be applauded for how they have clawed their way back into the title race—their position strengthened by a 1-0 win over Everton a few hours after Chelsea's loss—but those thinking there is but a three-point gap in quality between them and Chelsea are drastically misinformed.

We wait to see how long Sergio Aguero will be sidelined for following the injury he picked up against Everton. Without their talisman, City wouldn't be in the position they currently find themselves.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are far from a one-man team, yet they have relied on Aguero to carry them at times this season. The diminutive Argentinian has been the difference when others have shown a lack of leadership and the mettle to chase down Chelsea.

For Aguero's sake, he'll be hoping his injury isn't as serious as first thought. For his team's sake, Pellegrini must be crossing everything.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

However, it's of no concern to Mourinho. Regardless of the team City field each week, he knows what Chelsea are capable of achieving.

Mourinho has seen it all season, and against Newcastle, he witnessed it again at St James' Park.

Chelsea's defeat didn't come about through them being outplayed or outmuscled. It was a combination of many things, namely ill fortune and meeting a team in their best form this season.

To the home side's nine shots, Chelsea had 26. They dominated with 66 per cent of the possession and carved out the best openings.

"

Newcastle's defensive game by numbers: 50 clearances 18 blocks 20 interceptions 17 tackles won The Geordie wall. pic.twitter.com/2p9dErCij0

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 6, 2014"

They didn't take their chances, whereas Newcastle did. It really is as simple as that.

Alan Pardew's team dug in the way Mourinho's teams have in the past. Newcastle rode their luck, battled well and got their reward. They earned their three points and were worthy of them.

Chelsea left with nothing, but they should have won this game.

"I have no complaints, [we were] unlucky," Mourinho told the BT Sport cameras. "We had lots of chances to score in the first half, we didn't. In the second half, we had chances, but we didn't [score].

"They defend and the first time they go forward, they score a goal. After that everybody behind [the ball] against a team that tried everything and a team where every player went to the last second."

And that's the point.

Chelsea didn't lose with a whimper; they lost trying to win. Had it been the opposite, Mourinho would have cause for concern.

His team played with a belief in their approach, which is how they need to continue. If they do, there is only one place the Premier League trophy is heading in May.

"We have to ask the other 19 teams in the Premier League if they'd like to be our position, and they would like to be. But the leader is only one and the leader is Chelsea," concluded Mourinho.

Indeed.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained first-hand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes