However the London [Images] club have different ideas and would dearly love to celebrate their centenary by conquering Europe as well as winning their first English league title since their only previous success in their Golden Jubilee year of 1955.

Chelsea, having already won the League Cup, pulled 11 points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United [Images] with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion this week, securing themsleves at least a qualifying place in the Champions League next season.

Victory in Europe's top club competition would be the icing on the cake for the club's ambitious Portuguese manager who is still possessive of the title he won with Porto last season, saying he does not want to relinquish "my trophy".

Mourinho has sparked controversy at every turn, however, and is now caught up in a war with UEFA which seems largely illogical considering the success his side are having.

If his tactic was to take all the pressure off his men by putting it on himself a question remains. Why do that ?

They were doing very well on the pitch already without the aggravation he seems to be storing up for himself off it.

He is under investigation by UEFA after sending his team out late for the second half in the first leg at the Nou Camp then failing to appear at the mandatory news conference.

He complained that his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard had spoken to referee Anders Frisk at halftime, suggesting an attempt at influence. He then criticised the Swedish referee after his side went down 2-1 following the sending off of Didier Drogba [Images].

Mourinho could not have known quite what his outspokenness would lead to. Frisk quit the game last week, saying he had received threats against himself and his family.

FOOTBALL'S ENEMY

UEFA referee chief Volker Roth called Mourinho "an enemy of football" this week, Mourinho threatened to sue, and all and sundry leapt into the argument including FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and football commentators around Europe. The brouhaha is unlikely to subside for some time.

Meanwhile Chelsea's multi-national squad, largely assembled with and backed by owner Roman Abramovich's billions, are still doing the business.

Tuesday's colourless win over bottom side West Brom could not be compared with the skill-packed thrill-a-minute 4-2 home victory over Barcelona, but it pushed the side three more points towards the title.

Four different players -- Eidur Gujohnsen, Frank Lampard [Images], Damien Duff and captain John Terry -- scored against the Catalans and Chelsea barely missed suspended top striker Drogba and injured Dutch winger Arjen Robben.

Chelsea have enough talent, especially with the imminent return of the twinkle-toed Dutchman, to freewheel past the also-rans and reserve their finest displays for the likes of AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

England [Images] skipper David Beckham [Images], whose Real Madrid [Images] side are out of the competition, tipped either AC Milan or Chelsea to win it now and few would disagree with that.

Many could disagree with Mourinho's stance, but UEFA's enemy is currently loved by thousands of Chelsea's fans whose long wait for real glory could finally be ending.

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