ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Chelsea 3 Burnley 0: IF ANYONE is well qualified to make judgments on how the title favourites compare, it is Brian Jensen. Burnley's goalkeeper starred in his team's shock victory over Manchester United and was kept busy during his side's defeat here by Chelsea.
Liverpool at Anfield are next but the Dane thinks he has already faced the champions in waiting.
“I don’t want to say too much because I am a Man U fan myself but, personally, I think Chelsea are the team to beat so far,” said Jensen, who made six top-class saves on Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter who they play against. You saw it against Sunderland last week as well when Steve Bruce said it was one of the best attacking displays he had seen. We saw it again today and nobody can deny it.”
Chelsea’s midfield diamond of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Deco ran Burnley ragged with their neat passing and constant movement.
For those in the stand it was mesmerising to watch; for the 34-year-old valiantly keeping goal for the bamboozled visitors it was confusing as the home team made it four wins from four.
“I just saw blue shirts everywhere. It was a bit of a footballing lesson for us,” said Jensen.
“The passing and the movement, the full-backs coming forward, the attacking football. The passing is great to watch and everyone can see the quality.”
Chelsea’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, may still be getting to grips with the English language but he possesses the words to dampen expectations after the club’s best start to a league campaign since Jose Mourinho’s second title in 2005-06.
“To win [the league]? We are ready to continue this work, this play. I am sure that it will be difficult. Now is a good moment, we play very well, we train very well, no injuries. But it will be difficult, I am sure, because this is football,” said the Italian, who missed his old club Milan’s 4-0 defeat by Internazionale in the Milan derby on Saturday evening because he was on a plane.
Ballack, who scored with a header either side of goals from Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole, believes form at Stamford Bridge will be key to wresting the title from Manchester United after three years. Last season Chelsea lost two games at home and drew six as they finished third, seven points behind United.
“We’ve had some periods, especially last year when we were struggling at home. We won a lot of away games but we drew too many at home and that’s what cost us the league in the end,” said the German midfielder.
“If we play the best we can, I’m sure we can win the league because we have a strong team.”
Top of the table on goal difference ahead of Tottenham – whom they face here after a trip to Stoke – Chelsea have a three-point advantage over their nearest traditional rivals, United. Ballack, speaking before Arsenal’s loss at Old Trafford, said he was encouraged by the points dropped by the “Big Four” already.
John Terry was the focus of much attention this summer until he eventually rebuffed Manchester City’s approaches and here he easily repelled Burnley’s best efforts. As expected, the Chelsea captain will be rewarded for his loyalty with a new five-year contract worth an estimated €170,000 per week.
Guardian Service
