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CHELSEA FC: THE RACE IS ON

/noticias.info/ Fittingly on the day of the Grand National, Avram Grant has been discussing chases, outlining his hopes for catching Manchester United, as well as keeping a hold of own leads in matches.

We currently sit five points behind the league leaders, but can move within two if we win at Manchester City this afternoon. United play tomorrow against a Middlesbrough side that pushed us to the wire at Stamford Bridge last week.

Despite a disappointing performance, we hung on to claim three vital points, and Grant believes that, rather than the surrender of a lead like against Fenerbahçe in midweek, could be the difference between success and failure.

It was mentioned to him that six times since he took over, we have given away a lead and not won the game, with suggestions this is a consequence of a more attacking style of play.

'I didn't make a statistic of how many leads were lost before I came, but yes when you go to a different way, sometimes you pay for this,' he said.

'On Wednesday we dominated the game, and it was not the time to close the game to win 1-0. The team needed to make it 2-0 and not close the game,' he added, before correctly asserting: 'Most of the times we won the games.'

He also believes there will be no formalities for the top two this weekend, as we both face tough fixtures.

'It's not easy to play Middlesbrough. They had a good result against Arsenal, and are a good team. They have improved a lot, but it is very difficult to play Manchester City and we need to do our job,' he admitted.

Grant has a difficult balancing act, and with the second leg against Fenerbahçe to come on Tuesday, he explained that he is likely to shuffle his pack.

'It will not be the same team that played Wednesday because we also need to think about the game on Tuesday. We need to think about everything, because we are at the end of the season now. We don't want injuries, and want as much as we can fresh players for every game. We have a big squad so we can use it.'

With six games remaining, Grant knows that time is running out to catch the champions, but has been impressed with how his team has pursued Sir Alex Ferguson's side throughout the season.

'I think it is not easy to chase after so many clubs. Since we need to chase, we know if Manchester United lose they will still be in first place.

'We can't afford to lose so many points, so we concentrated on winning games and improving things. For six or seven months it was a big improvement, and after working hard to be before Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool, you want to know you did everything to achieve the best,' he said.

The manager is still unhappy at having to play league games against Wigan and Everton within 72 hours next week, and reiterated his belief that this creates an unfair advantage for our rivals, as well as inconveniencing our supporters.

'When you come to the end of the season, you need an equal situation for everybody,' he began.

'I have met a lot of Chelsea fans that complain also, they bought tickets for Saturday. For them it is important, but now in modern times we think only of television. We need to think of the supporters, many of the supporters cannot come when the game is Thursday.

'It is not equal chance, but I don't want to speak about it. We cannot change it, and need to win the game anyway.'

If we do manage to pick up three points in each of those games, there is every possibility we could be neck and neck with our rivals as the season enters its final straight.

Today's game can be followed live on Chelsea Plus. We are 8/11 favourites to win the game with online betting partner Paddy Power. notas_de_prensa_archivo