The Barclays Premier League champions travel across the capital 10 points and 10 places worse off than their fifth-placed rivals, who last won the title in 1961 and whose most recent trophy was the 2008 League Cup.

Chelsea have one win in 10 at White Hart Lane and their most recent trip, on New Year's Day, exposed the frailties which have become all too familiar for Mourinho this season as Spurs won 5-3.

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"(There is) no pressure on them, like it is in the other four or five top teams to reach important positions," Mourinho said.

"Nobody speaks about them as title contenders, like they speak about Man City, Man United.

"They have great conditions without the same pressure other clubs have to do magnificent work.

"They lose a couple of matches and nothing happens. They are in the Europa League, and, in the group phase, to be fair, nobody cares about Europa League.

"They go smoothly, step by step. They build a team. They bring in young players. They give conditions, without any kind of pressure, for the young players to develop in the team.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. Image credit: Reuters

"The club is powerful to decide, 'We don't sell, we don't sell, we don't sell', and to decide, 'We can invest and we can bring in this one or that one'.

"Of course they need a great manager, which they have. Of course they need good players, which they have. But the conditions are very good."

Mourinho's comments came as he recalled complimenting Mauricio Pochettino's side in the aftermath of March's Capital One Cup win at Wembley, when the Portuguese won the first trophy of his return.

Mourinho's third Premier League title was added soon afterwards, but the defence of both trophies appears over.

It would take an unprecedented rise, plus numerous rivals dropping points, for Chelsea to retain the title or even to finish in the top four this season.

Tottenham are unbeaten in 12 matches, since the opening day of the season, and Mourinho believes Spurs could win the title for the first time in 55 years.

"When I watch them play it's not a surprise for me," said Mourinho of Spurs' unbeaten run.

"If they say they are fighting for the title, I would not laugh. I would accept it because the team is very good.

"They have this season (an) even better (team) than last season.

"I can imagine, with the stability they are showing, that sooner or later - I think sooner - they will be there, or win trophies or in a Champions League position."

Diego Costa is under pressure to deliver after scoring just four times this season, the most recent in the win over Norwich.

The striker and Mourinho had a heated exchange at half-time of Tuesday's win at Maccabi Tel Aviv which Mourinho afterwards played down.

Yet it is clear the Portuguese wants more from Costa.

"I told him, from a distance, with gestures, that I was not happy with the movement he did," Mourinho said.

"He told me also a few nice words from where he was. And nothing happened.

"He's not reading the game properly in these actions. That was my opinion.

"As a striker you must read it. You have to play not just when you have the ball, but also when others have the ball.

"You have to try to anticipate things. Just a question of reading the game faster.

"It's not because you score one goal against Norwich that suddenly you are again on fire. It will be a process."

John Terry could feature despite sustaining an ankle injury in Israel and missing training on Friday.

"We have a little hope that it's possible," Mourinho added.

Midfielder Ramires is a major doubt, too, having missed the Champions League tie with an undisclosed injury.

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