Mourinho sad after letting Manchester United get away

LONDON, Apr 28 (Reuters) Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho conceded Manchester United were very close to Premier League glory after his side's 2-2 home draw with Bolton Wanderers today and said he felt sad.

The champions also received a double blow with Germany captain Michael Ballack undergoing ankle surgery yesterday and defender Ricardo Carvalho hobbling off with a knee injury in the first half.

Asked if the result had handed the title to their rivals, Mourinho said: ''Almost...and in football almost is always a big question mark.

''Mathematically, there's a chance and when there's a chance you have to wait...you have to win and you have to wait.

''I think Manchester United at the moment feel very close... They feel very comfortable...They can come to Stamford Bridge and they can lose,'' he said.

United, who recovered from 2-0 down to beat Everton 4-2 today, are five points ahead of Chelsea with three games to play including a clash on May 9 at Stamford Bridge.

The teams also meet in the FA Cup final on May 19 and could contest the Champions League final in Athens four days later if they win their semi-final ties next week when Chelsea are away to Liverpool and United visit AC Milan.

''I feel sad, but I feel I have a big game on Tuesday. That's a good thing, about being in this situation, that you still have a big game so you don't have time to be sad,'' Mourinho said.

Mourinho began by resting England midfielders Frank Lampard and Joe Cole and top scorer Didier Drogba but all three came off the bench against Bolton.

Lampard was needed to replace Carvalho midway through the first half when the Portuguese centre back injured his knee in a clattering tackle from Kevin Davies. He will miss the Liverpool game.

Chelsea are already without Ballack who underwent surgery yesterday after injuring his ankle in last Sunday's 0-0 draw at Newcastle but Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, out for a month with a knee injury, could be back for Tuesday's game.

Mourinho said, however, that player fatigue had nothing to do with Saturday's result because both Bolton's goals were scored from set pieces.

''Set pieces are not about...tactics and physical condition...they are about specific duels,'' he said.

REUTERS PDS KN2250