Premier League Title Race Far From Over For Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC are top of the table at Christmas, just like they have been all year long. However it would be foolish to think that the Premier League title race has already been decided, even if being top in Boxing Day is an encouraging sign. The title race was not over when the Blues were undefeated and 7 points clear, and it is definitely not over with only a three point cushion over Manchester City.
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Along with Manchester City, there is a threat lurking in third place Manchester United. The Red Devils are 10 points behind the Blues but they have been on an excellent run in recent weeks. Before last weekend’s draw against Aston Villa, United had won six Premier League matches in a row and were in the midst of a tremendous run of form that saw them rocket up the table.
Another advantage that Manchester United have in the Premier League title race is that they do not have to worry about midweek competition. They did not qualify for the Champions League or Europa League last season and have already been eliminated from the Capital One Cup. They are still alive in the FA Cup and will face League One side Yeovil Town but that is only one competition out of the usual three they are involved in. Without these midweek distractions, especially late in the season, the Red Devils can make a serious title charge against teams with a more congested fixture schedule.
Chelsea FC captain John Terry, as quoted in Eurosport, spoke about City and United still challenging for the title. Terry said, “you look at City, they’ve kind of come from nowhere really. Man United are back in the fold as well. With the good teams around us, they can put a run of five or seven games together and all of a sudden they’re back in it. It was an important win for us to secure that top spot for Christmas but it’s a long way to go. We’ve got a tough game at home against West Ham (on Boxing Day) which was difficult last year. It’s game by game at the moment.”
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The Blues do indeed face a tough test against a surprising West Ham team that is currently fourth in the table. Manager Sam Allardyce has two in form forwards in Andy Carrol and Diafra Sakho and has the Hammers playing excellent football. Stewart Downing has been a revelation for the London side and goalkeeper Adrian has been in fantastic form. If Chelsea FC hopes to mount a serious title run and stake their claim as the best team in England, these are the types of games they must win. With City and United nipping at their heels from now until spring, every win is worth its weight in gold from here on out.
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