Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that the title race is over as Chelsea’s “defensive” nature will not see them over the line.

The Blues has won 16 of their last 19 Premier League games and only dropped points in that spell against Liverpool, Tottenham and Burnley – who they drew 1-1 with on Sunday.

They are now 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham following the north Londoners’ 2-0 loss at Anfield against Liverpool.

Jose Mourinho was the last man to guide Chelsea to a league title but it looks like Antonio Conte will join the illustrious club this year with the Man United manager insisting that the title race is over.

“We needed to win. Sixteen games unbeaten is an amazing record but it would be the perfect record with two or three fewer draws at home. It was a difficult match and a very important win for us,” Mourinho told BBC Sport post-match reporters ahead of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Burnley on Sunday.

“We are not a team scoring lots of goals so it is important to keep the clean sheets. I am really happy with performance. In the 10-15 minutes before the goal we were playing in a brilliant way. The goal had to come.

“I am so happy with the game between Liverpool and Tottenham later because I know someone will lose points.

“Chelsea are very good defensive team. They defend very well and with lots of players and I think in this situation a very defensive team wins the title with counterattack goals and set pieces goals so I don’t think they will let it slip, but football is football.”

Chelsea have brushed aside almost everyone since their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in September, going on a 13-match winning run which set a new club record and equalled a Premier League high.

On top of that, the Blues have kept the most clean sheets (13) in the top flight this season and conceded the joint-fewest goals (18) too.