Chelsea host Man United as top two face off in EPL
26 Oct 2012 5:44 AM IST
Uncomfortable with the billing of English Premier League favorite, Chelsea will be unable to avoid that tag if the team beats Manchester United on Sunday in the biggest match of the season so far.
The European champions have won seven of their eight league matches to power into a four-point lead, with the manner of their victories just as impressive as the results.
At this stage in the campaign, Roberto di Matteo continues to play down his unbeaten side’s title chances but adding second-place United to defeats of Arsenal and Tottenham away will make that stance untenable.
With Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney working well in tandem, United has the firepower to worry a Chelsea defense that will be without suspended captain John Terry. But Alex Ferguson’s side has been uncharacteristically sloppy at the back this season, conceding first in eight of its 12 matches.
‘I can’t get to the bottom of it I am afraid,’ Ferguson said. ‘If you analyze the goals we are losing, they have come from throw-ins, crosses, cut-backs, all sorts, and they are finding players free in the box.
‘It is difficult to put your finger on it, and it is a concern because it is making it difficult for us.’
Defending champion Manchester City is level on points with United and can put the pressure on the top two by beating Swansea on Saturday for City to maintain its unbeaten start.
While Chelsea is unbeaten in the league, the team fell to the first loss in its defense of the Champions League title with a 2-1 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
‘In a way, what happened was a good experience for us because we have to defend better,’ Cech said. ‘We played well when we had the ball but not when we didn’t have it. ‘If you do this against Man United, you are in big danger because they are the same type of team. Hopefully it was a good lesson and we learn for the weekend.’
United defender Johnny Evans is aware of chelsea threat, ‘You can see that from the way they have been scoring their goals this season,’ said he.
The European champions have won seven of their eight league matches to power into a four-point lead, with the manner of their victories just as impressive as the results.
At this stage in the campaign, Roberto di Matteo continues to play down his unbeaten side’s title chances but adding second-place United to defeats of Arsenal and Tottenham away will make that stance untenable.
With Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney working well in tandem, United has the firepower to worry a Chelsea defense that will be without suspended captain John Terry. But Alex Ferguson’s side has been uncharacteristically sloppy at the back this season, conceding first in eight of its 12 matches.
‘I can’t get to the bottom of it I am afraid,’ Ferguson said. ‘If you analyze the goals we are losing, they have come from throw-ins, crosses, cut-backs, all sorts, and they are finding players free in the box.
‘It is difficult to put your finger on it, and it is a concern because it is making it difficult for us.’
Defending champion Manchester City is level on points with United and can put the pressure on the top two by beating Swansea on Saturday for City to maintain its unbeaten start.
While Chelsea is unbeaten in the league, the team fell to the first loss in its defense of the Champions League title with a 2-1 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
‘In a way, what happened was a good experience for us because we have to defend better,’ Cech said. ‘We played well when we had the ball but not when we didn’t have it. ‘If you do this against Man United, you are in big danger because they are the same type of team. Hopefully it was a good lesson and we learn for the weekend.’
United defender Johnny Evans is aware of chelsea threat, ‘You can see that from the way they have been scoring their goals this season,’ said he.
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