Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea is still a work in progress despite 1-0 win over Manchester City at Etihad

CHELSEA might be building for next year, says Jose, but has his "little horse" in the title race exposed City's chinks?

Bus? What bus?

Jose Mourinho derided West Ham's 19th century performance that frustrated Chelsea last week, but against the much vaunted title favourites - at Etihad Stadium, no less - the Portuguese manager lived up to his moniker as the Special One, concocting a very 21st century performance that ensures the Premier League title race well and truly remains a three horse race.

Or is it?

"There are two big horses and a little horse," Mourinho said after the match. "A horse that next season can race.

"We can win it if they lose it. Arsenal are working for many, many years for the evolution of their team.

"What we are doing this season is what Arsenal have been building to for years.

"We are there, but are not favourites. We are preparing the team to be one of the favourites next season and this is a very important step."

News_Image_File: Edin Dzeko tries to digest what's just happened.

News_Rich_Media: The tam of the week from Round 24 of the EPL.

Enough with the mind games, Jose! Chelsea has become the first side to do the double against Manchester City since Everton in 2010-2011, the first side to beat them at home this season and the first to keep them scoreless at Etihad since Birmingham City in November 2010.

While Manuel Pellegrini blundered by partnering Yaya Toure with Martín Demichelis in midfield, Mourinho surprised everyone by leaving out Oscar, picking bundles of energy Willian and Ramires to provide the work rate to complement Eden Hazard's rich vein of form.

Skipper John Terry - who was outstanding, again, alongside Gary Cahill, revealed it was vintage Mourinho.

"Very much so. This is where he comes into his own," the captain said after the match.

"We spent a couple of days working on their strengths and weaknesses.

"After the disappointment of dropping two points against West Ham, it was important to come here and bounce back.

News_Image_File: Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic has a habit of scoring spectacular goals.

News_Rich_Media: The top five saves from Round 24 of the EPL.

"In the first 15 minutes, they were very good and made it difficult. We showed a lot of character. Overall, we were very solid and happy for the win."

Fernandinho's importance to City's midfield was exposed as City lacked the crisp fluency we've come to expect - but on the other side, the ying and yang of David Luiz and Nemanja Matic expertly snuffed City's midfield momentum, outnumbering Pellegrini's men, where even David Silva found it hard to assert himself.

Chelsea hit the post three times, and had they been more brutal in front of goal, particularly on the counter, they could have put the game away earlier.

City was missing a stack of talent, and it showed, as Edin Dzeko laboured upfront.

"We had clear chances to score at least two goals but didn't do it, and they had two or three shots against the post," Pellegrini told Sky Sports.

"It was a very close game to play against Chelsea without (Sergio) Aguero and Fernandinho.

"It's important to note that we were missing them, also Nasri and Javi Garcia. We had to change the midfield.

"It was an important game but we'll continue and we'll see. We're just two points behind Arsenal."

News_Rich_Media: Highlights of Chelsea's 1-0 win over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

This was no stingy 1-0 contest. Chelsea defied predictions the bus would be parked in front of Petr Cech's goal as they outpointed City in the midfield battle in an absorbing contest.

And then there's Mourinho - an influence before the game, after the game and the man in focus, even during it. Alvaro Negredo was one such victim of the Chelsea boss. Starved of opportunity, he was further frustrated when Mourinho barked at him in Spanish, accusing him of going down too easily when he was felled near the coach's technical area. Negredo, who has been in great recent form, lost focus, and was off before an hour.

But after this win, which saw Chelsea join Manchester City on 53 points, two adrift of Arsenal, it was all about the team, for Mourinho.

News_Rich_Media: The top five goals from Round 24 of the EPL.

"When the team lost the ball they all sacrificed for the team. 'Our record was not good against City in the last few years, this season we managed to win these two matches especially this one," Mourinho said.

"Today we won because we were the best team - I am not saying we are better, I am just saying we were today."

They were the better team today, and, exposed the assumption that City is unbeatable at home and unplayable in midfield.

Mourinho might be building for next year, but has he found the crucial chink in the fortress everyone thought was ready built for this year?