Chelsea 2 Bolton 2:Jose Mourinho has been centre stage in many a football drama but now he must get ready to tread the boards in the minor role of graceful loser. It is a part for which he is under-rehearsed. Though cup ties have slipped away here and there, he has won the league for four seasons in a row at Porto and Chelsea.

Mourinho himself all but conceded the title to United in the dressingroom after this game, before immediately switching his players' attention to tomorrow's second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Liverpool at Anfield.

He was determined to remind his men of the great achievements that are still feasible even if the Premiership holders lose the title.

"I had my team-talk with them after the game," said Mourinho. "I wanted them to remember where we are and what we are doing and what we have to do."

The rivalry with United was not wholly set aside, though, and he had jibes for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Following Mourinho's recent claims that referees will not award penalties against United, the Portugal winger replied: "He always has to say something because he can't admit his failures."

The Chelsea manager rebuked Ronaldo: "A kid had some statements not showing maturity. Maybe (it's because of) a difficult childhood, no education, maybe the consequence of that."

He did decline to further the feud with Alex Ferguson who had claimed on Friday that the authorities should take action against Mourinho for his allegation of bias.

The Chelsea manager is perhaps more concerned with his team's injuries - Ricardo Carvalho misses tomorrow's game due to a knee problem, with Khalid Boulahrouz or Michael Essien likely to deputise.

The schedule has been too much for the Stamford Bridge team and, five points behind Manchester United, Mourinho might have to concede the title as early as next Sunday if his men cannot win at Arsenal.

This weary 2-2 draw with Bolton underlined the fact that Ferguson's side deserve the Premiership honours.

Mourinho had been concerned about "the game before the game", the fixture in the path of a side bound for Anfield.

Half a dozen alterations were made to the line-up that had won the first leg against Liverpool but the slumbers of Drogba, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard had to be interrupted as they were all brought on before an hour had passed.

Bolton's woes were even more numerous than Chelsea's. Injuries demanded many changes, which included the stationing of the holding midfielder Ivan Campo at right back. On top of all that, the squad had the distraction of seeing the reports that their manager, Sam Allardyce, will be leaving in the summer. In fact it took only 24 hours, Allardyce resigning yesterday for "private" reasons.

Purposeful Bolton had their minds purely on Uefa Cup qualification and depended on their set-piece expertise. Lubomir Michalik, the Slovak making his first Premiership start, shot them ahead in 19 minutes when Abdoulaye Meite's header from an Andranik Teymourian delivery broke to him off Salomon Kalou.

Chelsea were level three minutes later as Kalou stylishly converted a cross from the impressive Wayne Bridge. Mourinho's team were on track after 34 minutes as Kalou headed a deep corner from Lampard. Idan Tal, standing on the line, glanced the ball on to the bar but it then bounced off Jussi Jaaskelainen for an own-goal.

The Finn made good saves in that period but his afternoon was to get progressively easier as Chelsea dwindled. Terry, who has not been so influential since his back injury, conceded a foul in the 54th minute. Tal flighted the ball in and Kevin Davies, who completely lost his marker Essien, headed the ball in before Petr Cech could get to him.

Chelsea were at their most fallible and little went in their favour. Meite, for instance, handled the ball close to the penalty area in the 75th minute but the officials did not even spot the offence. All the while the fans were registering United's comeback at Everton. ... Guardian Service