From kings to kingmakers – how Chelsea can decide a title race they have no hope of winning

EPL: Carlo Ancelotti, Tottenham-Chelsea (Getty Images)

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By James Daly

While Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that the Premier League title has slipped out of grasp his side still have the chance to help decide who will go home with England’s biggest prize come May.

The Blues are 15 points behind table toppers Manchester United and even with two games against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side still to go, any dreams of lifting the Premier League title at the end of the season have vanished.

The Blues’ chances of retaining the trophy died the day Liverpool came to Stamford Bridge and ruined Fernando Torres’ debut for the home side with a resolutely defensive display that earned them a sneaky 1-0 victory. While Ancelotti’s men were failing to break down the Reds’ five man back line, their title dreams were waving goodbye quicker than the £50 million left Roman Abramovich’s bank account to acquire the aforementioned Spaniard from the Anfield club.

Too many times this season Chelsea have been found wanting, especially in big games. Last season the Blues won at Anfield and did the double over Arsenal; this season they were beaten by Raul Meireles’ volley and were embarrassed at the Emirates as Theo Walcott inspired the Gunners to a famous victory. Results just haven’t been good enough domestically.

As a result priority has quickly changed to making sure they qualify for next season’s Champions League again – either through beating Tottenham into fourth spot, or winning the damn thing outright.

Already midfield stalwart Frank Lampard has claimed the squad are now focusing on European glory rather than domestic success. He said: “I hate putting one above the other but having won three Premier League titles the Champions League is the one to win.

“It depends on the squad but I think if you’re going well in the Champions League it can help your league form. If you’re winning in Europe, that form can be carried into the league.”

And Ancelotti’s men already have one foot in the quarter-finals after a comfortable first leg win against Copenhagen, thanks to an Anelka brace. The second leg should really be a formality, although teams no better than Copenhagen – Sunderland for example – have already been to Stamford Bridge and shown up the Blues’ frailties.

But back on English soil they face Manchester United twice in two months and after handing Sir Alex Ferguson’s men the initiative in the title race, could well be the ones who rip it back from them.

Which would leave Arsenal to swan in and get their hands on their first piece of silverware in six years and after the Gunners threw away the League Cup on Sunday they will be desperate to make the most of any chance chucked their way.

Or what about Manchester City? Six points behind Arsenal in third and 10 points off top spot may well be a step too far, but if Chelsea can get maximum points against United it makes the summit look much more reachable.

But can Chelsea really beat Ferguson’s men? Don’t be fooled by their position at the top of the league; this Mancester United side is nowhere near as strong as previous teams and is leading the pack more out of the rest of the sides’ inability to make a decent fist of challenging. And with David Luiz proving to be a real talent after his £25m switch from Benfica the pieces may well be starting to fall into place for Chelsea, albeit too late for an assault on the league title.

And if Fernando Torres can rediscover his form and goalscoring touch – and what better way to do that than against United on Tuesday night – that could just be the injection of confidence the Blues need. Lord knows they need something, especially amid reports Ancelotti has lost the dressing room.

It’s been a tough season for Chelsea fans but if they can manage to trip up United in the final furlong of the Premier League title race that might just be the thing that brings the smiles back to Blues’ faces. Oh, that and winning the Champions League.