Fabregas claims Blues have steadied
Premier League leaders Chelsea look to strengthen title challenge while Swansea turn to Gomis after Bony departure
>> LONDON: Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas believes the Premier League leaders have put their stumbling form over the festive period behind them as they bid to strengthen their title challenge at Swansea today.
Tottenham Hotspur produced one of the shocks of the season when they beat London rivals Chelsea 5-3 at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day after Jose Mourinho’s side had dropped points previously in a 1-1 draw with high-flyers Southampton.
However, Chelsea returned to winning ways by knocking secondtier Watford out of the FA Cup and winning 2-0 at home to Newcastle in the league.
“There is never complacency at Chelsea, we just want to win every game,” Spain international Fabregas told the London Evening Standard ahead of the Blues’ trip to south Wales.
“Of course that’s not possible through the season, there are many, many games.
“Losing to Tottenham like we did was a shock, but when you watch the game again you see that every chance they had, they scored,” the playmaker added.
“Things didn’t go our way, but credit to Tottenham, they played a good game. But that’s it, we are just looking to move forward now.”
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibault Courtois could be forced to miss a third straight game after suffering a thumb injury against Spurs.
Courtois is back in training and could play for Chelsea with some sort of brace, but the injury is still not fully healed.
Mourinho, however, has no reason to take any risks over the 22-year-old’s fitness, with veteran reserve keeper Petr Cech keeping two clean sheets against Watford and Newcastle in the Belgian’s absence.
As was the case against Newcastle, Courtois could be named on the substitutes’ bench.
Meanwhile Swansea manager Garry Monk has backed striker Bafetimbi Gomis to fill the void left by Manchester City new boy Wilfried Bony.
The Swans reluctantly sold Bony to the Premier League champions in a reported £28 million deal on Monday.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Monk, whose side are ninth in the table after last week’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
“Of course it is disappointing to lose a big player and a big personality, but I kind of feel proud of it that the teammates and club played a good part in his development and improved him and gave him a platform to do what he’s done to go from a reasonable amount to the profit we have.
“I’m versed in the history of the club and these sums of money now makes me proud,” the former Swansea defender added. “We wish him all the best, he deserves his chance. All players want to play at the highest level so he goes with our blessing.
“But I’d already prepared for this period. We brought in Bafetimbi Gomis and Nelson Oliveira but Bafe is my No.1 striker and going forward we’re looking for both of them to contribute.
“Bafe is a different player, a different striker, but a top quality one in his own right, he’s proven that through all his career and to myself.
“Even if he has not had the game-time he would have liked, he’ll show in coming games the qualities he has.”
And Monk was equally bullish in his belief that Swansea could cause Chelsea problems in Bony’s absence.
“You have chances in every game to score goals,” he said. “We create numerous chances in every game, they warrant more goals but as long as we’re gathering the points that’s the main thing.”