Matic calls for resurgent Chelsea to push for unlikely top-four finish
>> LONDON: 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 on Saturday.
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.
The manner of recent performances has drawn 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.”
Stoke arrive at Stamford Bridge in confident mood, having moved above Chelsea and up to seventh by beating Newcastle 1-0 on Wednesday.
That was a third successive victory for Mark Hughes’ side, who are only five points outside the Champions League positions.
Hughes spent three years at Chelsea as a player, and actually featured the last time they lost at home to Stoke, in a 1995 League Cup tie.
The Potters have not won a league match at Stamford Bridge since 1974, and their manager is keen to put that right.
“I had a great time as a player there when they were a mid-table team. You could see things were starting to roll in the right direction as I left,” Hughes said.
“Going back there, we haven’t had the best of times. We’re looking to change that. It will be a good match up.
Stoke will be without the injured Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron, while Ryan Shawcross is in Germany to treat a back injury.