Jose Mourinho's recent press conferences have become something of a glorified countdown as he continually revisits the most important number in his mind. The Chelsea manager has known for weeks exactly how many points will secure a first Premier League title since 2010 and, as he reflected with considerable candour on a gruelling afternoon at Loftus Road, the overriding message was that the number just got smaller.
The pre-match tally of 14 points has become 11, courtesy of a first Premier League victory in this unfriendly corner of west London since 1996 and Cesc Fabregas' first goal since December. The combination could not have been better timed. Chelsea knew they could afford to drop points here and still be champions, but it would have been far from ideal to dip into the margin of error with matches against Manchester United and Arsenal on the horizon.
Fabregas' goal came from his team's only shot on target and three months on from routing Swansea City 5-0 at the Liberty Stadium, we are still waiting for Chelsea's second convincing attacking performance of 2015. At Loftus Road there were no signs of the autumn swashbuckle returning, only more evidence that Mourinho's men will not need it to.
No one will speak wistfully about this team 10 years from now, yet the fact remains that Chelsea are on course to break the record set by Arsenal's 'Invincibles' for consecutive days at the top of the table. They may not be regarded as the greatest Premier League champions, but they look increasingly likely to be the most dominant.
"It’s not normal for a team to be top of the league since day one, and the team that is top since August and arrives in the middle of April top of the league, every game top of the league, I think that’s the team that deserves all the credit," Mourinho insisted at Loftus Road, before pouring scorn on Arsenal's belated revival. "Teams with good runs? We have had a good run since day one, so I think no one should be disappointed."
There is, of course, the issue of who they have dominated. Aside from a seven-game winning streak over the festive period Manchester City have rarely looked like champions, and their domestic collapse since exiting the Champions League has turned what might have been an ordeal for this Chelsea side into a simple question of dates and mathematics. Arsenal are once again rampant when the pressure is off, Liverpool have been relegated to the top-four discussion since losing Luis Suarez and Manchester United are only now discovering the beginnings of a post-Sir Alex Ferguson identity.
It is impossible to know whether a more concerted challenge might have inspired Chelsea to find a higher gear or simply thrown their shortcomings into sharper relief. Regardless of events elsewhere, Mourinho's radical lack of rotation has taken its toll on his talented core. His starting XI in peak condition can rival any team in Europe but since the turn of the year Thibaut Courtois, John Terry and Eden Hazard have been his only consistent match-winners.
Fabregas, the Premier League's outstanding player until Christmas, looked to have disappeared off the face of the Earth prior to his winner on Sunday. Diego Costa's hamstring problems have returned and while Loic Remy has impressed in his absence, Didier Drogba looks every day of his 37 years.
Such issues will dominate Mourinho's thinking as he plans Chelsea's Premier League title defence this summer. All their rivals will spend and expect to be considerably better when the first balls are kicked in August.
But what concerns Mourinho should also concern those chasing him. Chelsea look set to win this title in dominant fashion despite rarely dominating their opponents on the pitch in 2015. Their core is considerably younger than those of City and United and money is available for the Blues to add the greater depth they will need to maintain their supremacy.
They may not inspire but Chelsea are at the top and have room to grow. United, City, Arsenal and the rest have much to do if they want to avoid listening to another Mourinho countdown next April.
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