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Emile Heskey's late goal means Manchester United are now five points clear at the top of the table with just four matches remaining! This could well be the day the Premier League title returned to Old Trafford...

Has Chelsea Handed Manchester United the Premier League Title?

by Salomon Gonzales (Senior Writer)

16

1284 reads

Sports

April 14, 2008


Emile Heskey's late goal means Manchester United are now five points clear at the top of the table with just four matches remaining!

This could well be the day the Premier League title returned to Old Trafford.

I must say it hurts that Wigan equalised in the second minute of stoppage time. Having said that Chelsea just did not pay well.

The first half nearly put me to sleep and I just knew something had to change. Half time substitution, Joe Cole on for the ineffective Malouda and Chelsea upped the heat. Ten minutes later, Chelsea went 1-0 up through an Essien shot in the 55th minute.

Into injury time and the ref signalled three added minutes with the ball in Chelsea possession. What do we do with it? Throw a long ball up the park which Anelka failed to control and Wigan go up the other end and score.

Koumas with a cross and Heskey with the finish in the freakin' 92nd minute!

Playing like this, Chelsea might as well roll over and give United the title now. There is no way we deserve to win the league. Not just based on tonight's performance but the season on the whole.

People are probably tired of hearing this, but this is largely down to Grant's inability to rally and motivate his players. Chelsea players more or less motivate themselves.

Players like Anelka, Mikel and Malouda had a look of "I dont give a damn" about them, which brings about the old saying—"money talks."

Mathematically, Chelsea are still well within a shot of regaining the title but it does look less and less bleak. Having said that, there's no guarantee United will win every match before and after the Chelsea/United game.

I must stress, Chelsea were without Lampard and Drogba tonight. With Joe Cole only on the bench till half time.

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16 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Shawn Sieiro about 1 year ago

    With each and every slip up by their rivals, Manchester United has more wind in their sails and Chelsea really should have had this match, but it comes down to the small things like keeping possession that escapes them. Great snatch of a draw by Wigan, but more importantly, it shows Chelsea's mental game.

    Swapping Mourinho for Grant on the sidelines was a shame for Chelsea...they certainly could have used the Portuguese jumping up and down on the sideline, motivating his players or lambasting the refs for no good reason :)

    Players like Mikel, Malouda and Anelka and they way they play and their mental game reminds me of many of those highly paid hockey players who just don't care about the game as much as they should, at the end of the day they still get to drive home in their awesome cars while a 14 year old fan goes back home frustrated and having to hear it from his Manchester United buddies at school the next day!

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  2. Chris Kirk about 1 year ago

    The title is now out of your grasp Salomon, But any other year Chelsea would have been champions. Manchester United are on course for a record points total. Never mind Jose Mourinho, Frank Rijkard, or Avram Grant, whoever had been in charge of Chelsea this season they would never have upstaged a rampant Manchester United. Maybe if the Chelsea supporters had stopped mourning Jose's departure and got behind the team, maybe Anelka, Mikel and Malouda might just have stepped up to the next level?

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    • Salomon Gonzales about 1 year ago

      Yeah your probably right! I think though, everybody knew it would happen eventually. With the way we been grinding out result, it wouldn't be long before we eventually dopped points..
      About the three players i metioned - Not having the fans backing is not an excuse! These are players who get paid millions every year..

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  3. Shawn Sieiro about 1 year ago

    Arsenal could use someone like Anelka.

    Just a thought.

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  4. Andrew McNair about 1 year ago

    Yes to the headline!

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  5. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    its all over...manutd is still CHAMPIONS. Steve nwosu nigeria.

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  6. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    manutd deserve to be champs coz they got d best player in d world N watch out nxt season they'll be even hotter. Lutman

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    • Salomon Gonzales about 1 year ago

      im sorry buddy but United dont have the best players. They have been the best 'team' this season BY FAR but Chelsea probably have just as good a squad as them. Maybe even better !!

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  7. Mark Syrett about 1 year ago

    Not over. Chelsea always needed one of Blackburn or West ham to draw with United, now they need one to win. You must remember it was always 4 points chelsea needed, not 3 because of the goal difference. Chelsea must win every game, and hope. That is all. It is Uniteds to lose, but we said that before Heskeys goal.

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    • Salomon Gonzales about 1 year ago

      Appreciate the optimism Mark. Yes, we all knew it was United's to lose before the game but as long as Chelsea kept winning, the pressure would be on United to do the same. Had we won last night and again on Thursday, we would have been level with United, which surely would make even the top players feel the heat....

      Mathematically yes, its possible but realistically i must say, no...

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  8. Justin Baskin about 1 year ago

    I don't know if we can say Chelsea handed United the Title, as they never really had number 1 position, I think Arsenal handed over the title to United. Chelsea have just ran out of steam coming towards the end of the season. Next year in Anfield (hopefully)

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    • Salomon Gonzales about 1 year ago

      Fair point Justin but United were always wary of Chelsea's threat. With the game at Bridge yet to be played, they were more than concerned about Chelsea. As long as Chelsea kept winning United HAD to do the same and vice versa of course..
      With last night's draw, United can now relax and play their football, knowing that they must lose 2 of the last 4 games for them to lose the title ...

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  9. Ziad Achkar about 1 year ago

    Chelsea Should have killed wigan last night, they had several golden chances, wigan's GK was amazing, he saved wigan's asses. everybody knows that if are winning 1-0 and with the end of the game close, the team losing is going to throw everything agaisnt you, United CAn Breath Now. not much but they can relax...

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