Perhaps drawing his caution from Liverpool’s failed bid to win the league last season, Terry said early this week that, though delighted by the way they had started their quest to regain the title, there was still plenty of work to be done before the Premier League trophy was back at Stamford Bridge.
With five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, Chelsea are ahead, but not out of sight. The reigning champions have begun to pick up form and so have other giants like Manchester United and Liverpool. It is still seven games into the league after all. To win the league, the good run should stretch to most of the remaining 31 games and that is a toll order. For their morale, Chelsea have yet to lose in the Premier League this season, winning six out of seven games with their worst result a 1-1 draw away to City.
On Sunday Jose Mourinho’s side saw off London rivals Arsenal in fine style and, with the club having been crowned champions when leading from the front during Mourinho’s first spell in charge, some observers are already questioning whether the Blues can be caught.
“Clearly it is not over. Other teams have been in this position. It’s nice to have the lead but when you’re at the top everyone wants to shoot you down. That’s the good thing about the Premier League and why everyone loves it,” said Terry early this week.
“Teams are out to get us because we are at the top and playing well. The international break is here and we need to come back and maintain our form after that as well. It’s very important we do that.”
Chelsea’s last league triumph was four years ago and Terry knows the hunger in the club’s fans for a return to glory under Mourinho, who gave them two titles in his first spell in west London, which ended in September 2007.
“You’re just hoping when you’re at the top and have a five-point cushion and more on certain teams, a couple of them slip up again and that increases. If that happens, it’s a lot of points to give up early on. All we can do is keep winning and wait for those teams to slip up,” added the former England centre-half, who added that Chelsea were a more formidable side this season than last, when they finished four points behind champions City.
Newly-arrived Spanish striker Diego Costa has been one of the reasons they are so strong and on Sunday, he scored his ninth goal in seven Premier League games.
Post published in: Football