Petr Cech has warned Manchester United to forget about starting an early title party after insisting Chelsea are still in the race to win the Premier League.
Reigning champions United can clinch the title when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 26 after seeing Avram Grant’s men drop two points in a shock 1-1 draw at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday.
Having fallen five-points behind fellow Champions League semi-finalists United, second-placed Chelsea must beat Everton at Goodison Park today to retain any realistic ambitions of claiming a third Premier League crown in four seasons.
PHOTO: EPA
But Czech Republic goalkeeper Cech, who played against Wigan despite having had more than 50 stitches inserted in a facial wound just eight days earlier, claims Chelsea can still snatch the title from United’s grasp.
“We need to concentrate on ourselves and win every game because our destiny is not in our hands and we need to wait to see if someone can beat Manchester United,” Cech said. “United were lucky against Arsenal on Sunday, so they can be unlucky against Blackburn on Saturday.”
“The best thing about the Premier League is that all the teams have quality and there is always pressure because games aren’t easy to win, so as long as we keep fighting, we’ll have a chance. We have a difficult game at Everton, but if we beat them we cut the gap to two points. We’re not throwing the towel in yet,” Cech said. “United have four games to play and they have to come to Stamford Bridge, so it is a must win game for us, but every game is a must win game and we just need to make sure we keep winning. The title is closer to them [United] but it is not over yet and the message from our dressing room is that it is not over and we still have games to go.”
Cech, rated by many as the world’s No. 1 goalkeeper, admitted he gambled on his fitness by returning against relegation-battlers Wigan.
“When I got the protection for my face I decided to ask the club doctor if they would let me play,” he said.
Everton, desperate for points today in order to reduce the five-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed Liverpool, who presently occupy the last spot on offer to English clubs for next season’s Champions League, could receive a boost before the kick-off.
Toffees chiefs hope that by then South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar will have made permanent his loan move from German club Borussia Dortmund.
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