Two games into the new season and the pressure is already on Premier League champions Chelsea.
|||London – Two games into the new season and the pressure is already on Premier League champions Chelsea to find their first win.
Jose Mourinho’s side travel to face West Bromwich Albion this weekend with a few question marks hanging over their heads following a draw and defeat from their first two matches.
Even so early in the season, the 3-0 loss at Manchester City sparked panic in some quarters and Chelsea know they need victory to settle things down.
“We know that this is another year,” Chelsea full back Branislav Ivanovic said. “Last year we won the title and we play with extra
pressure now and we have to adapt to that. We have to forget last season and start thinking about the points this season.”
The five-point gap between themselves and Manchester City is already a talking point and even with so long to go in the season, Ivanovic knows they need to find form.
“At the moment, yes it looks a big gap – two games, five points – but also we have to look at our situation and improve,” he said.
“(The Man City match) was a very difficult game for us but we can come back. This is the Premier League. Every game is another final so we have to look forward.
“We know what we haven’t done well in the first two games but there are another 36 and we have to improve ourselves. For sure we will not give up after these two bad results for us. We didn’t compete with them and this was the problem for us.”
If media reports are to be believed, though, Ivanovic may be dropped for the trip to West Brom, with new signing Baba Rahman set to come into the side for his debut.
Captain John Terry, who was replaced at half-time by Kurt Zouma in the City loss, could also be left out but West Brom manager Tony Pulis has problems of his own.
Pulis is frustrated by the transfer window, saying that until it closes, West Brom will not be fully able to concentrate on matters on
the pitch.
“I am concerned that we haven’t hit the button yet,” he told the Daily Mirror. “We are still trying to find our way. It has been a
little bit of a messy window for us.
“As soon as we get through the window, we can settle down and then start preparing the team the way we want to prepare it for the
season.”
City, meanwhile, will be out to maintain their impressive start to the season by winning at Everton.
Two wins out of two have put City alongside Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester United at the top on six points.
Victory for City would be their ninth top-flight win in a row, equalling a club record dating back to 1912.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini knows better than to get carried away, though, aware that leads can evaporate in a handful of matches.
“In football, nothing is significant until the end,” he said.
“Chelsea were eight points in front of us last season and on New Year’s Day, we were on the same number of points. It is important not to drop points.”
Liverpool will have their first real test when they travel to Arsenal on Monday night while Leicester welcome Tottenham and Manchester United face Newcastle.
Bottom side Sunderland take on Swansea while newly promoted Bournemouth, also yet to earn a point despite two encouraging
performances, are away to West Ham.
Norwich take on Stoke, Crystal Palace host Aston Villa and Watford meet Southampton in the weekend’s other matches. - ANA-DPA
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