I really feel that I have right of reply to the Sportingo article headed: 'The lack of Chelsea back-up that Mourinho must account for.'  Where has this writer been? Jose Mourinho has proved that he is the Special One - and I won't harp on about two Premiership titles and a Carling Cup success.

This article is all about what Jose has achieved this season before any silverware enters the cabinet.

At the time of writing, Chelsea are still involved in four competitions: Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup and of course the Carling Cup final in a couple of weeks. Are Arsenal still involved in four competitions? Nope, only three (and come Wednesday night it could be two). Are Manchester United still involved in four competitions? Nope, only three.

Chelsea's season as champions began very well, beating Manchester City 3-0, followed by a surprise defeat at Middlesbrough. Then the team went on an unbeaten run of 13 games in all competitions (including two matches against Barcelona) before the defeat at Tottenham in November. During this period Chelsea lost two goalkeepers in one game at Reading in October - Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.
In the next 19 games in all competitions Chelsea lost twice, away to Werder Bremen in the Champions League and to Liverpool in the Premiership. When you lose Ricardo Carvalho on the morning of the match and the team has Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt to face up to without recognised central defenders, what else do you expect? You can hardly expect the returning Cech to perform miracles, can you?

Since the Liverpool defeat, Chelsea have not lost nor conceded a goal and captain John Terry was back making his first start for two months in Saturday's victory against Middlesbrough. There has been a lot of politics going on at Stamford Bridge, let's not deny the fact. Jose has had his hands tied -  the selling of William Gallas and Robert Huth on the last day of the transfer season, not being able to buy through the January transfer window. Why wasn't he allowed to buy? Well, you had better ask Peter Kenyon or Roman Abramovich, or was it that Jose felt that he didn't need to buy anybody?

Only Mourinho would use Michael Essien atsa centre-back and get away with it. Essien has been Mr Chelsea this season with his powerful and dynamic performances in midfield. Only Jose would juggle various players at the problematic right-back spot and almost get away with it. Jose has used Paulo Ferreira, Khalid Boulahrouz, Geremi and now Lassana Diarra and after brilliant recent displays Diarra could have finally solved the right-back problem.