A
six-point lead. A game in hand. Nine to play. For me, Chelsea will go on to
win the title with the great advantage they've built up on their rivals.
However, Jose Mourinho will want to get the team back to the form they were
displaying earlier this season, when they were playing with a real swagger.
That freedom and fluidity has dropped a little in recent weeks.
That perhaps stems from the fact they haven't rotated as much as their
rivals this season - only 13 Chelsea players have started more than five
games in the Premier League. In contrast, Man City have started 19 players
for more than five matches and Arsenal 18.
That puts a lot of pressure on the regular players - but nonetheless,
they're still in a fantastic position.
They'll have to be switched on this weekend though, as Mark Hughes' Stoke
side have the potential to give any team problems. They've already beaten
Arsenal and Man City this season.
Hughes was rewarded with a new contract this week and I'm really pleased for
him. He got a lot of blame for what happened when he was at QPR but he's a
good manager and he's seized this chance to show what he can do. He's done a
really good job.
Stoke are now playing well, scoring good goals and Hughes deserves a lot of
credit for what he's done there.
Their passes are shorter this season, although they do still have Peter
Crouch up front if they want to go long. They're not afraid to play
percentage football and I've got no problem with that. It's about winning
games and playing to the strengths you have - and in Crouch and Jonathan
Walters, Stoke have got a powerful front two if they want to mix it up and
use them.
Hard work
Chelsea had to work really hard up at Stoke to come away with a 2-0 win
earlier this season and they'll have to do the same on Saturday Night
Football. The hosts have to win their individual battles and then their
quality players can make the difference.
One of the players who falls into that category is undoubtedly Cesc
Fabregas. The Spaniard had a sensational start to the season - his assist
for Andre Schurrle at Burnley on the opening weekend was superb and he
racked up 13 assists in the top flight by New Year's Eve - but he has gone
off the boil recently.
His last goal came against Stoke in December and there's no question he
hasn't been the same threat in the second half of the campaign. I thought
that particularly against PSG in the Champions League, he struggled against
Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti.
There's no doubt in my mind he's still a star player though - Chelsea just
need to get him back playing how we know he can. He got an assist in his
last outing in the Premier League against Hull and hopefully he can build on
that.
I'm tipping a narrow Chelsea win in this one. It won't be easy but I can see
the hosts wining 2-1 and ticking off another game in their pursuit of the
title.
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