Mourinho picks Chelsea for cleansweep...of player awards

Birmingham City defender Olivier Tebily (L) tries to tackle Chelsea winger Arjen Robben. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is anticipating a rout for his team in the player of the year awards after his side continued their unrelenting march towards a trophy cleansweep with a 2-0 victory against Birmingham.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is anticipating a rout for his team in the player of the year awards after his side continued their unrelenting march towards a trophy cleansweep with a 2-0 victory against Birmingham.

Mourinho's side are now 10 points clear in the Premiership, in the final of the League Cup and in the last 16 of both the Champions League and FA Cup.

Goals from centre backs Robert Huth and John Terry, both from headers, sealed victory against Steve Bruce's injury-ravaged troops and gave Mourinho his latest excuse to brag about how great his team is.

When asked who his picks for player of the year awards would be, he replied: "If I was to choose the player of the year I would pick Terry first, Frank Lampard second and then I would have to think a lot about number three but it would definitely be a Chelsea player."

As arrogant as Mourinho comes across, few can argue with his assessment as his team racked up their 29th victory in 37 games this season.

In fact, so pleased is he with Chelsea's form this season, he described his squad as perfect when quizzed about reports linking him with Arsenal's Ashley Cole.

"I can't have been meeting with Ashley Cole because I was in Milan with (Brazilian striker) Adriano, but just practising my Portuguese because I don't need any strikers," he quipped Sunday.

"Either its Steven Gerrard, Adriano, (Valeri) Bojinov, Ashley Cole or next week it's another one. All I can tell you is that I have a perfect squad, a wonderful squad and I don't need any players for this season.

"Next season we will need one or two but at the moment Chelsea is a club everyone wants to come to and everyone wants to connect players with us."

That unwavering satisfaction with his playing resources is a luxury unknown to Bruce as he tries desperately to snatch Wales striker Craig Bellamy from Newcastle before the transfer window closes on Monday.

"We agreed a fee with Newcastle and I spoke to the boy yesterday and tried to sell the club to him," said Bruce.

"But unfortunately it has happened very quickly so we certainly have to have a decision by 9am tomorrow morning otherwise it will not be possible to get the deal through.

"It just shows how far our club has come in the last two and a half years from the first division to be trying to buy a player like Craig Bellamy.

"He is a fantastic centre forward and he is British and 25 and that is why we are trying to pay 6million pounds for him.

"Yes he is a fiery little fella but all good players have that and all we hope is that he gives me the nod."

Bruce was less than impressed with the gridiron style block that Terry performed on centre back Martin Taylor to allow Huth a free run on goal to open the scoring.

"It's 20 years that's been going on and you just hope the referee sees it," he moaned.

His defence was at fault for Terry's goal 10 minutes from time as the Chelsea captain was left unmarked to head home Lampard's right-wing centre.

It was just reward for Mourinho who ignored an injury to Huth in the second half and sent on attacking substitutions, forcing his team to play with an injured player.

The German is just back from an ankle injury but looks set for another spell on the sidelines.

"I am very disappointed because the boy is injured again," said Mourinho.

"He had a problem with his ankle and was out for a long period, he came back, played very well and has a call up for Germany against Argentina next week and the boy is injured again.

"It's a pity because he is a very good player and should play more for us."