Mourinho has been quoted on numerous occasions as saying “Chelsea are not favorites” and other metaphorical phrases such as “we are just a small horse”. His evidence to suggest that Chelsea are not favorites has been that with Man City’s games in hand, they have it in their power to go on to win the division.
With last nights result – a 2-2 draw at the Ethiad against a resurgent Sunderland side – it now means that if we win our remaining games against Sunderland, Liverpool, Norwich and Cardiff, we will win the league. Of course this is no easy task as we have to play against a Liverpool side that are bang in form and against a Cardiff side that are fighting for their place in the top division.
Either side of that Liverpool game at Anfield, we have a small matter of a Champions league semi-final against Atletico Madrid. This will be great experience for some of the younger members of the squad that have never experienced games like these. Players like Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Shurrle and Cesar Azpilicueta.
There can be no doubt that this game at Anfield will be a ‘winner takes all’ match. With City now supposedly out of the race it can be hard to understate the importance of a victory at Anfield. For if Liverpool get the result then there will be nothing to stop them from going on to win the title for the first time since 1990. There can also be no doubt that they are the favorites to win the league.
But we all know what Jose’s like; he will be hard at work preparing the relevant mind games to outwit and out-tactic his counter-part, Brendan Rodgers. Steve Hollonde took the press conference today at Cobham; this is the third one that Jose has missed.
With Liverpool still to play Norwich, Crystal Palace (away) and Newcastle at home it would appear to be a tricky end to the season for the club. Crystal palace away is no easy game, as we found out when we were on the wrong end of a shock 1-0 defeat. Tony Pulis has created a strong winning mentality at the club. They were the favorites to be relegated before he came and gave them a good shake up.
Now they are playing good football and at home especially they can be very hard to break down. Although people now consider Man City as outsiders, they have a tricky end to the season as well. West Brom, Crystal Palace (away) Everton (away) Aston Villa and West Ham both at home. Crystal palace and Everton are hard places to go and get a result. Add in the factor that Everton are trying to push Arsenal out of that top four spot and you have a real game on your hands.
So it would appear that although we have a trip to Anfield to try and overcome, our last few games in the Premier League seem to suit us better than our rivals’. As each day passes, the importance of the Liverpool game seems to grow and grow.
Chelsea are definitely in contention now. Facing Atletico and Liverpool in the same week is a lot hard than it looks. But then Chelsea triumph when they are least expected to and with Mou so good at deploying his mind games and keeping the pressure off his players it is very much possible. One right step at a time is all we need right now.