Premier League week 30: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City / Swansea 1-3 Tottenham
Week after week, title contenders are fading. Arsenal was the first to give up on title hopes after a terrible stretch of bad games last month than Liverpool followed with an inexplicable draw versus Bournemouth and finally Manchester City. The Citizens only brought a point back from Arsenal [2-2] and fell to Chelsea. Only one win in the last 5 Premier League matches. indeed, you cannot be a champion in these conditions.
Therefore, the sole remaining potential contender is Tottenham Hotspur. The Spurs have won their last five matches in the Premier League and have closed the gap to Chelsea by seven points with still eight games to be played. Coaches from Chelsea and Tottenham comment on the current form:
Conte, Chelsea coach:
‘It was a big win for us, it wasn’t easy because when you play against City it’s normal to suffer in some parts of the game, but I think we suffered as a team in the right way,’ Conte explained.
‘The first half was very open with chances at both ends. Normally when this happens I don’t like it because I want more balance. In the second half we defended very well. It was a good win, above all because we played after a bad defeat when we didn’t deserve to lose. At this time of the season the pressure is very high and to drop points is not good because you give your opponent hope.
It’s a good win at a time of the season which is very important. To play against City is not easy because they are a top team. They have a great squad with great players and a great coach, the best in the world. When you face that combination it’s very tough. The Tottenham result is important but the most important results is ours, we have to continue to think like that. The best way is to think Tottenham can win eight games. To win the title we need 18 points and that’s the best way for us.’
Pochettino, Tottenham coach:
“It was a very tough night and a tough, tough game. We were finding different solutions, different possibilities to play and changing positions. At the end, that moment, we felt free and exploded! We needed that emotion. It was a big win for us. We started well, created some chances but when we conceded we realized we must improve our level and tempo. After that, it was so difficult to break down Swansea but we always believed and we showed massive character. I feel very proud of this group of players.”
