COURTOIS: WE WON’T SLIP UP AGAIN IN RUN-IN
KEEPER INSISTS PALACE SETBACK IS A ‘ONE-OFF’ AS CHELSEA LOOK TO TAKE BIG STEP CLOSER TO TITLE
THIBAUT COURTOIS insists Chelsea are determined not to blow their chance of winning the Premier League.
Chelsea go into tonight’s match at home against Manchester City under pressure after their surprise defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Antonio Conte’s side have been at the top of the table for five months but second-placed Tottenham, who are seven points behind, believe they can catch the leaders with nine games remaining.
Courtois, who was part of the Chelsea team that finished top in 2015, is confident the setback against Palace will be a one-off in the title run-in.
He said: “Our goal is to win the title again and we hope to do it. Being so close at this stage, we will give our all to win it.
“It’s a pity we lost against Crystal Palace but we are fully focused on Manchester City and we are looking to winning this one.
“After winning the League two years ago I am even hungrier to win it again. To win the Premier League was a fantastic experience.
“There are a lot of players who want to win it again, others who haven’t before and want that experience of Stamford Bridge exploding with joy. It’s a great feeling so let’s hope we can do that.”
Both Chelsea and Spurs, who play at Swansea tonight, have three League games before they face each other in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
David Luiz is targeting wins in all of them — the other two matches are against Bournemouth and Manchester United — so that his side go into the Cup showdown with a firm grip on the Premier League trophy.
He told Standard Sport: “I want to win all of those [three] games. If we can do well in the League before the semi-final, we will have an opportunity to concentrate on the FA Cup.
“That would be good. We can rest, there will be one less bit of pressure, that’s normal.”
Luiz also believes the squad have what it takes to cope with the strain of a title run-in.
The centre-half said: “When you play for a big club, you need to be ready every day for the best and the worst. You need to be strong, mentally and physically. You need to work hard every day.
“Without being in Europe, we have more time to prepare for games, to rest, everything. I’m happy with the team, the players, the coach.”
Chelsea, who are set to be without right wing-back Victor Moses because of a calf strain, beat Manchester City 3-1 in December.
Their victory was overshadowed after City duo Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off late on.
With so much at stake in the re-match, Conte was asked if he wants his players to keep their cool.
He said: “Yes, but I think my players don’t need to have this advice. They’re showing me g re a t b e h av i o u r in every game.”