Chelsea 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1:DECISIONS SUPPOSEDLY even out over a season but try putting that to Manchester United if Chelsea somehow retain their title, and to Tottenham Hotspur if Manchester City claim the final Champions League berth.
These scenarios are still on due to this controversial win by Carlo Ancelotti’s side that had Harry Redknapp joining the chorus for goalline technology after Frank Lampard’s long-range effort was fumbled by Heurelho Gomes and the ball appeared not to wholly cross the line.
Mike Cairns, the assistant referee charged with making an instant decision on an incident that none of the 41,681 inside Stamford Bridge had a clear view of, seemed to hesitate. Then the goal was awarded and seconds later Chelsea walked off for half-time boosted by having levelled Sandro’s spectacular 19th-minute opener.
There was a second chunk of ill fortune for Redknapp to swallow on 89 minutes. Chelsea had dominated throughout but Spurs looked to have claimed a valuable point to close to three behind City in the hunt for a Champions League spot worth an estimated €17 million. United, meanwhile, were anticipating running out at Arsenal yesterday with a five-point lead over Chelsea, having played a game fewer.
When Didier Drogba, who started alongside Fernando Torres, sliced a shot across the six-yard box Salomon Kalou scrambled the ball home from an offside position. But the strike was ruled legal and suddenly Spurs were four points behind City having played a game more and Chelsea had closed to a win behind United after being 15 points behind on March 1st.
Redknapp is clear he does not want an attritional Europa League campaign next season but this is what he is now facing. Ferguson’s ire will be sparked on Sunday if Chelsea depart Old Trafford having turned United over and will intensify on May 22nd if the champions go on to retain their title following proceedings here.
Ancelotti agreed his side had been “lucky” to win but John Terry, again outstanding, offered the following take on Lampard’s 45th-minute goal.
“Throughout the season you get some. Frank’s had his share when he hasn’t (got the decision). Frank deserves it after last summer,” he said, referring to the midfielder’s strike for England against Germany in the World Cup that was clearly over the line but was disallowed. “I wasn’t too sure. I was a similar distance to the ref, and the linesman was a bit away as well. He gave it. We’ve seen a picture from our photographer and it was just over. But we deserved that because we never give up.”
Chelsea’s momentum may be the key to winning in Manchester. This was their eighth victory in their past nine league outings, a run that takes them to Old Trafford full of confidence. Having removed Torres and kept Drogba on, Ancelotti’s best chance against United may be to start with the Ivorian, leave the €58 million man on the bench and push Lampard higher up the pitch. Beyond Sandro’s lone strike, Chelsea’s defence was watertight.
Redknapp, asked if finishing fifth was worse than seventh, which would leave Spurs clear of Europa League football next season to concentrate on returning to the Champions League, said: “It’s not ideal. I thought last year the reason we finished in the Champions League positions was because we had a big advantage (as) we weren’t involved in Europe.”
Redknapp’s team must beat City on May 10th to have any realistic hope of finishing fourth. But the Spurs manager is still content with his club’s progress. “This shows how far we’ve come over the last year or two. We can play against anybody now. I really believe there’s nothing between the top five or six teams. I hate when people say: ‘If they don’t make the Champions League they’re going to sell (Gareth) Bale or they’re going to sell (Luka) Modric’. That’s not the way forward. The way forward now is to say: ‘Okay , let’s go and find one or two top-drawer players and move on again, and let’s get back in the Champions League’.”
Redknapp is confident Bale and Modric will want to stay beyond the summer. “Yeah, we weren’t in the Champions League when they came. I don’t see that being a problem. They know we are a good side but what you’ve got to do now is add one or two players and show them we do mean business.”
Guardian Service
The run-in
Manchester Utd
May 7th v Chelsea (H)
May 14th v Blackburn Rovers (A)
May 22ndv Blackpool (H)
Arsenal
May 7th v Stoke City (A)
May 14th v Aston Villa (H)
May 22ndv Fulham (A)
Chelsea
May 7th v Manchester Utd (A)
May 14th v Newcastle Utd (H)
May 22nd v Everton (A)
