5 Must Win Games for Chelsea to Seal Premier League Title
"We've got a Premier League to win."
Those were the words of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in the immediate aftermath of his team's failure to progress in the Champions League this week, losing out to Paris Saint-Germain.
Now that they're out of the FA Cup and Europe, and are already Capital One Cup winners, Chelsea will have just one thing on their minds between now and May—beating Manchester City to the Premier League title.
The Blues have 11 matches to secure their status as England's No. 1 team, and after the week they've experienced, they'll know more than anyone that there are going to be plenty of obstacles in the way as they bid to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time in five years.
Where will the biggest test be? Which three points will be the most vital?
Bleacher Report identifies five must-win games in Chelsea's title pursuit.
Southampton (H)
1 of 5
March 15, 2015—The first game on the back of Chelsea's Champions League exit, Jose Mourinho will want to see a response from his players.
Indeed, he needs one.
Chelsea are vulnerable right now, and the only way to overcome that is by playing football matches and proving a point to those around them that they are everything we've built them up to be.
Southampton will arrive at Stamford Bridge sniffing blood, yet Chelsea need to ensure the headlines are of the Saints being on the end of a Champions League backlash.
Every title-winning team suffers setbacks, but it's the way they react that defines them.
Big questions have been asked of Chelsea, and they need to respond with even bigger answers.
Stoke City (H)
2 of 5
April 4, 2015—Chelsea will face more glamorous opponents in their end of season run-in, but Stoke City remain a barometer to judge how much a team is up for the challenge of becoming Premier League champions.
Down the years, the Potters have dented the hopes of plenty of title challenges, notably those of Arsenal.
When they arrive at Stamford Bridge on April 4 for an evening kick-off in front of the Sky Sports cameras, will they be inspired by the prospect of doing it to Chelsea? Of course they will.
Key to Chelsea's title campaign is ensuring they keep Manchester City at a safe distance.
They need to be winning tough games like this one against Stoke to send out the message they are still capable of scrapping out victories, but more importantly to keep the points ticking over on the board.
This game takes us into April, with eight games remaining in the season. If City remain at arms length, time will be running for Manuel Pellegrini's men to claw their way back into contention.
Arsenal (A)
3 of 5
April 26, 2015—Jose Mourinho doesn't do defeats to Arsenal.
Indeed, Arsene Wenger's record against the Chelsea boss carries the stigma of being a dirty dozen—12 games, six draws, six defeats.
Defeating your rivals is always vital—and not just for bragging rights. It gives players confidence, takes points off the teams around you and, importantly, reaffirms authority.
Chelsea need to that against a big team, and of their remaining away fixtures this season, none come bigger than Arsenal.
They need to go to the Emirates and do it in their back yard—the way that characterises Mourinho teams.
The Gunners could conceivably be the closest team to Chelsea in the title race by the time these teams meet, too.
We're in mid-March and they sit just four points behind City, nine behind Chelsea. They're outsiders to lift the Premier League trophy, but if results go their way, Wenger's men could find they creep back into the title race and enjoy an uncharacteristic late-season surge.
It's just a thought, but Chelsea need to ensure they remain dominant over their London rivals.
Leicester City (A)
4 of 5
April 29, 2015—Chelsea's game in hand over Manchester City.
When City were losing 2-1 to Liverpool on March 1, Chelsea were busy at Wembley preparing to lift the Capital One Cup trophy.
Had they not, they would have been playing Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
When these teams finally meet at the end of April, Chelsea need to be coming away with three points.
Depending on how results go, this could arguably be their most significant game of the run-in.
Managers like to talk points on the board, but regardless of what City or Arsenal achieve, they know Chelsea have a potential three points up their sleeve.
And, if the gap at the top remains as it is, three points against Leicester will give Mourinho's men an eight-point cushion with just four games remaining in the campaign.
It'll put them within touching distance of the title.
Crystal Palace (H)
5 of 5
May 2, 2015—Facing Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in early May, Chelsea would have endured a hectic past seven days or so.
It starts against Arsenal at the Emirates, with a trip to Leicester City sandwiched between another London derby.
We talk of season-defining weeks; well, this will the end of one for Chelsea.
Three big games and nine points will make the Premier League title all but theirs. Games against Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland will follow, but while mathematically it may well be possible, it'll be difficult to see Manchester City coming back.
The psychological damage would have been done.
Chelsea have got to win their games for that to happen, of course.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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