The gap between first and second place in the Premier League is the smallest it’s been since January.
All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge and the Liberty Stadium Wednesday, as the Premier League title race looks to take an interesting turn heading into the final nine matches of the season.
Following Chelsea’s slip-up against Crystal Palace at home on Saturday, the gap from first to second place closed to just seven points.
With a game against fourth-place Manchester City on Wednesday, Chelsea fans are beginning to worry whether the Blues prematurely dubbed themselves champions.
“This league wasn’t finished before Saturday’s game and it is not finished now,” Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told Chelsea’s website following the Crystal Palace loss.
“There are nine games to play and we have to think step by step,” the Italian said.
Spurs, who sit seven points behind Chelsea, travel to Liberty Stadium on Wednesday to face struggling Swansea. Following a 2-0 win at Turf Moor, Tottenham have shown their ability to win in Harry Kane’s absence.
“I think our momentum is good,” Mauricio Pochettino told the official Spurs website. “The reality is we’re there, second in the table and now we must be focused and fight until the end.”
Pochettino acknowledges the dwindling, yet massive, gap between the two London sides. He, like Conte, stresses the importance on taking things one game at a time.
“It’s true we reduced the gap by three points but it’s still a big gap, seven points is a massive difference,” Pochettino said. “For us, it’s about being focused and try[ing] to win games.”
With both matches against Chelsea already behind them, Spurs now turn to City to leave the Bridge with three points.
However, the winner’s of 13 straight at one point (including a 3-1 defeat of Man City), Chelsea have other plans.
“I know that Manchester City are a really strong squad,” Conte said. “But it is right to think about ourselves and to face it game by game.”
Since switching to the 3-4-3 system back in September, Conte’s side have won 19, lost two and drawn two of their 23 games.
In that stretch, the Blues haven’t lost back-to-back games and will look to keep that streak.
It’s unlikely anyone will catch Chelsea, but the Blues’ boss realizes that anything is possible.
“In England, there does not exist an easy game,” Conte declared.
While seven points is the most narrow gap between Chelsea and the rest of the field since match week 21, the Blues still remain largely in control.
Next: Pep Guardiola and the art of overthinking
With nine fixtures remaining, Chelsea’s lead still holds significant at the top. In the remaining nine games, Chelsea only face five opposing sides who currently reside in the top half of the league table.
Spectators and journalists alike have casted doubts upon Chelsea’s ability to hold the top spot recently, following the Blues’ loss to Crystal Palace, draw at Burnley, and loss to Spurs back in January. However, Chelsea have yet to be dethroned and look destined to hoist the title in weeks to come.