Chelsea boss Avram Grant refused to concede defeat to Manchester United in the English Premier League title race, insisting his players still believed they could win it.
LONDON: Chelsea boss Avram Grant refused to concede defeat to Manchester United in the English Premier League title race, insisting his players still believed they could win it.
He admitted the Blues had to win Thursday’s clash at fifth-placed Everton, otherwise United could seal the title in the most devastating way — by winning at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home on April 26.
The Blues are five points behind the Red Devils with four games remaining, having blown their chance to reduce the gap to three points on Monday. They drew 1-1 with visitors Wigan Athletic, an injury-time equaliser by the Latics’ Emile Heskey dealing a huge blow to Chelsea’s hopes of reclaiming the title from United.
“We are still in the title race. It is more difficult now but we will still fight away,” Grant vowed. “Of course they (Chelsea’s players) believe and they don’t stop. Anyway, we need to win the game against Everton and against Manchester United, and anyway, we still need a bad result from United.” Grant said Chelsea had to beat the Toffees at Goodison Park to keep their title dreams going.
The clash with Everton was brought forward by the Premier League schedulers, meaning Chelsea face two title run-in matches in four days. Grant said: “It’s not easy, especially at the end of the season. But this is the decision. We are used to it. We will do our best. I didn’t like the decision.”
With this in mind, he made seven changes to his starting line-up for the Wigan game, with only two of them forced.
The former Israel boss was unable to say whether Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba or England midfielder Frank Lampard would be available for Thursday’s journey to the city of Liverpool. Drogba faces a scan on an injured knee, while Lampard pulled out of the Wigan game, rushing from the ground for family reasons.
Heskey’s shock equaliser crowned his 400th top-flight appearance. The 30-year-old former England striker shook off his marker to volley in a left-wing cross from substitute midfielder Jason Koumas. The Blues’ Ghana midfielder Michael Essien looked to have sealed victory with a 55th-minute shot.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}