HAZARD AND WILLIAN
They will never admit it but even the most ardent Arsenal
fan will be supporting Tottenham on Wednesday night. They won't be the only
ones.
Chelsea are running away with the title. A 14th consecutive
win for Antonio Conte's side on Wednesday and the Premier League may think
about ordering the royal-blue-and-white ribbons.
By 10pm, Chelsea could be eight points clear of
second-placed Liverpool with less than half of the season to go.
That will be easier said than done, of course. Tottenham are
building up a head of steam, with their 4-1 demolition of Watford on Sunday as
impressive as it was ruthless. But for now Chelsea have the air of champions.
They can win comfortably, they can win narrowly. But, in the
end, they win. However, if any team can end their remarkable winning sequence
then it is surely Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Speaking at Vicarage Road, Pochettino suggested that
neutrals will be willing Spurs to win at White Hart Lane. He's not wrong.
If his team require any extra motivation they only need to
take a short trip down memory lane.
Chelsea players were brazen in their desire
to stop Tottenham winning the title ahead of last May's infamous clash, now
known as the Battle of the Bridge.
The Blues got their wish, of course, coming back from two
down to draw and hammer the final nail in the coffin of Spurs' title challenge.
Hours later, Chelsea skipper John Terry posted on social media: 'Not on my
watch.'
Tottenham have played down Chelsea's wind-up tactics ever
since the explosive encounter. In private, though, it rankles with them.
This time, though, the boot's on the other foot. Chelsea can
equal Arsenal's Premier League record for consecutive victories set in 2002.
It's payback time. Pochettino, however, insists that Wednesday's clash isn't
about revenge.
'Do we want to stop Chelsea from breaking the record? No,
that chapter is closed,' he said.
'If we need to blame someone, we need to blame ourselves, we
are the guilty ones who did not achieve the Premier League last season for
different reasons.
'In our head the opportunity is to win this game, to get
three points and close the gap, but not revenge for last season.
I understand our fans will want to stop the record. Chelsea
and Arsenal are our enemies and for our fans this is a very special game. But
we are professional, the most important thing is to get three points. We want
to fight for the top four or win the League this season.'
Conte agreed, saying that Spurs' failure to lift the title
last season wasn't solely down to the draw at Stamford Bridge. 'You don't win
or lose a championship in one game,' he said.
Conte insists Spurs are among the leading contenders again.
The Italian spoke glowingly about them on Tuesday, pinpointing Victor Wanyama
as the man who makes them tick and claiming Pochettino will become one of the
best coaches in the world.
'This group are a young team with many players who are
growing and every year they continue to work with the same manager,' he said.
'Also, this season, there is a very important player, who is Wanyama. He brings
quality, quantity, stamina, work-rate and great commitment to the team.
'Pochettino is doing a fantastic job at Tottenham and they
are a team who can fight to win the title in the present and in future.'
As for Pochettino, he is an admirer of the much criticised
Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
The Spurs boss said: 'He's a player you hate to face but you
love him when he is your teammate. He is super competitive, with character and
never likes to lose.
'He is proud and that is what makes him have that ability to
improve every day. He transmits to his teammates the culture of winning, of not
being satisfied, of always looking for more.'
There will be no such pleasantries at White Hart Lane,
though. Conte's team are there to be shot at, though the Italian is determined
to ensure they dodge the bullets. 'It's important we continue in the same way,
to think about ourselves and don't look at other teams,' he said.
CHELSEA'S PREMIER
LEAGUE WINNING STREAK
October 1: Hull 0-2 CHELSEA
October 15: CHELSEA 3-0 Leicester
October 23: CHELSEA 4-0 Manchester United
October 30: Southampton 0-2 CHELSEA
November 5: CHELSEA 5-0 Everton
November 20: Middlesbrough 0-1 CHELSEA
November 26: CHELSEA 2-1 Tottenham
December 3: Manchester City 1-3 CHELSEA
December 11: CHELSEA 1-0 West Brom
December 14: Sunderland 0-1 CHELSEA
December 17: Crystal Palace 0-1 CHELSEA
December 26: CHELSEA 3-0 Bournemouth
December 31: CHELSEA 4-2 Stoke
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