Kalou we can wrap up title by Christmas
The Blues forward reckons his team will have the Premier League
crown as good as wrapped up if the margin between them and United
is not slashed by Yuletide.
Chelsea top the Premier League with 25 points from the opening
10 games. United are third, level on 20 points with second-placed
Arsenal.
Kalou said: "The goal is to be even further ahead in the Premier
League by Christmas. "The next month or so is a very important time
of the season in relation to the title. If we can still be at least
five points ahead of Manchester United by Christmas, it will be a
good step towards the title."
Despite Manchester City's money and Arsenal's potential, Kalou
revealed last season's Double winners Chelsea still see Alex
Ferguson's side as the main challengers to their top-flight throne.
And Kalou, who helped the Blues seal their berth in the Champions
League last 16 with a 4-1 win over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday,
said: "Other teams will be challenging but we still see United as
our main rivals.
"That's why it was important to get qualification from the
Champions League group out of the way quickly. "Now we can
concentrate on the Premier League and the FA Cup."
The Red Devils and the Gunners might be breathing down Chelsea's
neck in the race for the title. But Blues striker Didier Drogba
shrugged off the danger, insisting: "Our most difficult opponent is
us. "If we lose points like last year we could be in trouble again.
It is down to us to keep winning and keep increasing the gap."
Next up for Carlo Ancelotti's men is a Sunday visit to
Liverpool, who are showing flickering signs of recovery after a
disastrous start to the season.
Drogba was Chelsea's captain for the win over Spartak, as
Ancelotti rested John Terry. And the Ivorian said: "It was
important the manager was able to rest some players and we will be
able to go to Liverpool with fresh legs.
"I'm not sure it's a good time to go there. They're a strong
team and we have to be ready because the one thing you know about
Liverpool is that it is a difficult game.
"They might have had a bad start to the season but they have won
their last two games and their confidence will be higher.
"Liverpool are always Liverpool. "They will give us a lot of
problems. We have to know how to solve them."
