Matic eyes Chelsea push for top four finish
NEMANJA Matic claims Chelsea can still secure a top four finish if they can secure a fourth successive Premier League win when Stoke visit Stamford Bridge today.
The Blues’ win at Norwich this week moved last season’s champions into the top half of the table for the first time since August and within eight points of fourth placed Manchester City.
While their progress may look modest when measured in league places, Guus Hiddink’s team are undeniably on the rise and remain unbeaten in domestic competition since December.
T he m a n ne r o f r e c ent per formanc e s h a s d rawn comparisons to some of last season’s better displays and with the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie with Paris Saint Germain to come next week, they have hit form at exactly the right time. Chelsea interim manager Hiddink is remaining guarded about his side’s Premier League ambitions.
Blues midfielder Matic, though, believes that with the side now lying 10th, they can close the gap to the Champions League places if they can win all of their remaining 10 league games.
“It is very important to win games. We are a big team and have to keep doing this if we are to get closer to the first four,” Matic said.
“I know it’s very difficult to catch them but we will give our best to win every game from now on.
“I know that is very hard, maybe impossible, but in football anything can happen.”
Chelsea will undoubtedly have one eye on the meeting with PSG when they will attempt to overturn a one- goal first leg deficit. — AFP