(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes it is too early to compare his current side with his title-winning teams of the past despite a record-breaking start to the Premier League campaign.
Saturday's comfortable 2-0 victory at home to 10-man West Bromwich Albion extended the London club's lead at the head of the table to seven points.
A return of 32 points from the opening 12 games marks the club's best ever start to a season, surpassing the previous mark of 31 set by the 2005-06 title-winners during Mourinho's first stint at the club.
Chelsea's present-day vintage are already being tipped to be crowned champions in May and the manager described his side's first-half performance at Stamford Bridge as "beautiful".
But the Portuguese argued that this team cannot be regarded as the best he has coached in his two spells at the club until they have won some silverware.
"I cannot compare teams," Mourinho said. "You cannot compare teams that have won everything with teams that have won nothing. And this team has won nothing. This is a new team.
"The other team finished a couple of years ago. We have now John Terry and Didier Drogba, and no-one else left. These guys have to win if they want to be seen as a great team. They have to win.
"It's not just about playing beautiful football or being autumn champions. They have to win titles. And when they win titles, we can compare them to other teams.
"But obviously, when I use 'beautiful' in relation to the football in the first half, I am sure we all agree. Because the football they played was brilliant."
Champions Manchester City kept the leaders in their sights and Manchester United demonstrated they are not out of the title race yet. City came from behind to defeat Swansea City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium with Yaya Toure scoring the winner, while United, who have struggled since Louis van Gaal took over, won 2-1 at Arsenal to climb to fourth with their first away win under the Dutch coach. Arsenal, who have not finished outside the top four since 1996, slipped to eighth on 17 points - their lowest tally after 12 matches for 32 years. Chelsea lead the table, followed by Southampton, who have 25 from 11 and play at Aston Villa on Monday. City have 24 points and United have 19.
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