Essien: Chelsea will lead Premiership in days tribalfooball.com - December 25, 2006
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien says they'll return to the Premiership leadership within a matter of "days". He told the People: "We have a better team this season than last season.
"We have progressed and matured a lot and have learned to suffer but come back, and that is vital. We are much better than Manchester United. The difference in points in the Premiership is just a coincidence.
"It is just a matter of days before we are the leaders.
"What will be very difficult for their morale is that they already thought they were champions a few weeks back. But I have done the calculations and we will finish at least five points clear of United at the top of the table.
"The nerves are getting to United and it showed against West Ham.
"They knew about our victory at Everton and did not play well.
"These games over the Christmas period are going to be crucial. Jose Mourinho is a first-class football psychologist.
"All these controversial things he gets involved in are simply to take the pressure off the players. The battle for the title is between Chelsea and Manchester United.
"The others don't count and soon it will just be a question of ourselves."
