Chelsea are only six points behind Machester United. If they beat them at Stamford Bridge, that would make the difference three, which isn't much. Even if they lose, nine points isn't impossible to claw back, especially as Manchester are just as likely to self-destruct as they are to continue their form and are two long-term injuries to first-team players away from disaster.

But Chelsea are still under pressure -- because this is Chelsea. You can't spend upwards of £300m on a couple of league titles. From the beginning of the season I told my mates Joe Mourinho had to win the Champions League or he would be fired. Russian mythology tells us that Roman Abramovich was watching Manchester United-Real Madrid in the Champions League several seasons ago and decided to buy a team.

If there is any truth in this at all, surely it won't be too long before he makes changes if he doesn't have the elusive Champions League trophy in his hands. And if the league title heads to Manchester, you can forget the 'spend less money, invest in youth' rhetoric. Mourinho will be gone and the new manager, probably Guus Hiddink, will have a blank, oil-stained, cheque book.

So what will become of Mourinho? He has always contended that he wants to coach in Italy, a league he regards very highly, and he has been mentioned as a possible manager of the Portuguese national side. If he moves to Italy, which team would take him? Inter looked for a long time the most likely destination, but with their current form coach Roberto Mancini looks safe for now, although even a run of two or three loses will surely raise doubts again.

Roma and Luciano Spalleti have agreed to a five-year deal, and I can't see him arriving at Milan, either. However, I think Carlo Ancelotti may well be out the door come June. Silvio Berlusconi demands attacking football and often puts restrictions on the type of formations the team can play. At Chelsea, Mourinho has been very defensively minded in my opinion and demands complete control of the team (another cause for contention between Mourinho and Abramovich now that results are on the downturn).

Maybe Juventus could be a destination. Although they seem keen on keeping current coach Didier Deschamps, the arrival of the 'Special One' could convince stars such as Gianluigi Buffon, Mauro Camronesi and David Trezuguet to stay on. Lazio, Palermo and Fiorentina are the only others with a chance but I don't see circumstances coming together for that to happen.