BT Sports Pundit, Owen Hargreaves and former Chelsea star, Joe Cole believe Chelsea have what it takes to be title favourites after their sixth premier league victory in a row. The last they achieved this was under Antonio Conte and they went ahead to clinch the title.
According to Owen, Chelsea needs to sort out their defence issues so as to challenge for the Premier League title. he said this after Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace and moved over to the second place ahead of Manchester City.
Speaking on the after-match commentary on BT, he said: ‘You say with young players that they will sink or swim but they’re all swimming, they’re all flying under Frank.
‘He’s making all the right decisions and to have Kante and Rudiger back are huge.
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‘Only thing for Frank is they’re second in the league that’s unbelievable, but they’ve conceded as many goals as Newcastle.
‘Offensively they’re outrageously good but if they just tidied up that defensive part they will be in the title race.’
Goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic helped Chelsea secure all three points against Crystal Palace, a result that lifts Chelsea up to second in the table trailing behind Liverpool with five points.
Cole excited about the game also talked about Chelsea’s rapidly improving side. The former winger who played for Chelsea between 2003 and 2010 and won 3 league titles said:
‘There in and amongst it now,’ Cole said of Chelsea’s title chances. ‘It’s an amazing performance. At half time we were a bit worried because Palace defended so well in the first half. ‘But Chelsea stuck to their guns, moved Palace about and eventually the opening came.
‘Willian he stood up today, he’s been brilliant all season and has got the captain’s armband today. The youngsters were brilliant. ‘It’s an exciting for Chelsea, onwards and upwards. Second in the table and who would have thought that at the start of the season. ‘Frank won’t thank us for it he’d like to be even more quiet about it.’
‘One hundred percent they can challenge,’ he said.
‘You can’t find too many faults in this Chelsea team. There’s so much strength in depth in this Chelsea team now.
‘They took Cesar Azpilicueta out and bring Reece James in. You had Pulisic over Callum Hudson-Odoi. Also they look together, this isn’t a collection of individuals.’
Table leaders, Liverpool face Man City in a decisive season encounter. A Win from City takes Chelsea down to the third position while a win retains the Blues at second with City trailing behind Chelsea with a point.
