Chelsea Should Stop Whining About Penalties and Focus on Title Push

Another day, another conspiracy at Chelsea. Of sorts.

The club published a dossier on their website this week, outlining Chelsea's misfortune when it comes to being awarded penalties in domestic competition this season.

It made for interesting reading, especially given how Jose Mourinho's side have been awarded just two spot-kicks all season in the league, with it being four-and-a-half months since their last.

That came against Queens Park Rangers way back in November when Eden Hazard converted from 12 yards to win the game 2-1 after he was upended in the box.

In the time since, there have been plenty of examples when referees could have been more generous in their decision-making.

Cesc Fabregas should have arguably won a penalty away to Southampton during the Christmas period—a factor contributing to a 1-1 draw that day—while Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic are just two players who have also been left to feel hard done by.

The contrasting figures from across the seasons is striking, with the current campaign's penalty count way below average.

Had Chelsea been awarded half of their claims, there's an argument to suggest they would be out of sight in the Premier League title race by now.

Then again, they already are.

That Chelsea are six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand isn't to suggest Mourinho shouldn't air his grievances when he feels his players aren't being dealt with fairly.

But right now, what does it matter?

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Chelsea have a title to win and that should be their focus. This whole debate about penalties being awarded—or not in this case—is irrelevant.

With this latest twist, it's threatening to take over the end-of-season run-in. It's threatening to spoil the expected title parade.

Chelsea have 10 games remaining to ensure they regain their status as England's No. 1 club side. They have led the table from the opening weekend, and if they don't finish the campaign holding the Premier League trophy aloft it will a travesty.

Jamie Carragher made the point after Chelsea's away-goals defeat to Pairs Saint-Germain in the Champions League recently.

The ex-Liverpool defender-turned-TV pundit explained his view on Sky Sports that Mourinho's teams are respected but rarely loved by the general football public.

Season	Penalties awarded
2009/10	12
2010/11	8
2011/12	5
2012/13	11
2013/14	7
2014/15	2

The theory is that it comes from the perceived antics of Mourinho and his players, moments such as this when the manager is willing to publicly debate issues surrounding the club.

Ask the Chelsea manager for his thoughts and he'll tell you that he isn't concerned with whether his team are loved.

All Mourinho wants is to win, and that policy has seen him rack up an impressive trophy haul wherever he has travelled.

Winning breeds affection from the terraces, of course. Ask any Chelsea fans about Mourinho, and the reaction is one of adoration.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Mourinho is a rare beast in west London: He's a manager who comes with enough credit that a trophy-less season like last year is accepted in the belief he will eventually deliver, which he has already in 2015 with the Capital One Cup.

How long can he keep pushing things to limit before his own supporters decide enough is enough?

For that matter, how long can he keep pushing the limit before Roman Abramovich decides the same?

The owner has previously in that department, as we saw when Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge ended in tears. It would be a tragedy should things go the same way this time out.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

It's clear why Mourinho is so willing to criticise the decisions going against his team. Chelsea fans see it for what it is, as does the club's hierarchy. We wouldn't be seeing such content on their website if they didn't.

Given the negativity surrounding Chelsea right now, it's ironic the club's kit supplier Adidas is running an ad campaign about success breeding contempt in sport. "Haters gonna hate," is the basic premise of their message.

Focus on the thing you do best, Jose. Win.

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