SOCCER:JOHN TERRY has refused to accept Chelsea's chances of retaining their Premier League title have been dashed this season but has admitted a victory in next week's collision with the leaders, Manchester United, is essential if they are to claw back their considerable deficit from the top.

Chelsea welcome United to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for a rearranged fixture – the original game was postponed due to snow in December – and could be 15 points adrift of the top at kick-off.

Yet, heartened by a Champions League victory at FC Copenhagen and with time to prepare for the United match, Chelsea will seek to eat into that lead and inject late momentum into their campaign.

“If we want to put in a run and a charge for the Premier League, we must beat Manchester United,” said Terry. “A draw’s no good and, obviously, losing is no good at all.

“We go into the game with no fear, just passion. Being able to put pressure on them would be great. There’s a really small chance of us still winning the title, but it’s a must-win game.

“Teams have clawed back deficits like this before. It’s been done. United did it to Newcastle many years ago. It’s possible.

“Even last year, at the end of the season, there was an awful lot of pressure on us going into the last few games with us knowing we needed to win. Luckily for us, Liverpool were out of it, really, when we went there and didn’t put up much of a fight. But we’d gone to Old Trafford and won, and that experience did us the world of good. Recreating that could prove vital this year.

“Who knows what gameplan they’re going to come down with? They’re playing well, so they’ll probably be confident of coming down and getting something, which will hopefully suit us.

“I don’t think anyone should be fearful of United. At times we see they can be beaten and got at. They’re certainly not invincible,” the Chelsea captain added.

That bullish confidence has been reflected in Carlo Ancelotti’s public insistence that Chelsea are “still alive” this term.

Although their chances of retaining the title feel slim, they will have been heartened by Tottenham Hotspur’s loss at Blackpool on Tuesday night. Spurs’ 3-1 defeat means the reigning champions would be restored to the top four, and a Champions League qualification place, with victory on Tuesday.

While talk of the league championship is perhaps tinged with optimism, there is a realisation that Chelsea cannot afford to finish outside the top four.

“At times, the likes of Manchester City and Spurs are looking very good, but they’re slipping up as well like we all are at the moment,” said Terry.

“The only side who aren’t are Manchester United. But when teams like Tottenham and City do slip up, it’s down to us to capitalise and make sure we win so we can hopefully pull away from them.

“I know we lost some experienced players last summer in Michael Ballack, Deco and Juliano Belletti, but we still have an awful lot of experience in our squad, a lot of trust in one another and belief that we can still do it. We showed that in the run-in last year, and we can again.”

They boast a mouth-watering forward line, “the best in Europe” according to Ancelotti, from which to choose in the run-in provided the management keep egos in check.

Fernando Torres – remains without a goal for Chelsea following his €58 million move from Liverpool on January 31st – appeared at his most comfortable yet at the Parken stadium, albeit against struggling opponents, when paired with Nicolas Anelka. Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will expect to be involved regularly, with the array of options allowing Ancelotti to keep all his team fresh.

“They are some of the best,” said Terry. “If you look at Nicolas, Fernando and Didier, the three of them are so different in style as well. To play against them must put the fear into defenders.

“Against Copenhagen Fernando and Nicolas played on their markers’ shoulders, showing their pace, and there are probably none better at doing that in the league.

“Didier came on to hold it up and drag a little bit of time out of that game, but he showed his hunger, too.

“Hopefully this is the start of them all clicking together.”

GuardianService