Chelsea can cope with double bid, says Cech

Petr Cech insists Chelsea can

cope with the demands of challenging for a Premier

League and Champions League double as the Blues

face Sunderland at the start of an eight-day period

that could define their season.

Jose Mourinho’s side go into the latest round of

Premier League matches in second place, two

points behind leaders Liverpool.

Victory at Stamford Bridge over bottom of the table

Sunderland will ensure Chelsea increase the

pressure on Liverpool, who travel to Norwich the

following day.

Mourinho’s men will temporarily claim top spot if

they beat Sunderland, leaving them in control of

their own destiny in the title race ahead of the

crucial trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on April 27.

Chelsea’s position was strengthened in midweek by

Gus Poyet’s Sunderland who held third placed

Manchester City to a draw at Eastlands, four days

after City had lost at Liverpool.

But the west Londoners also have a European

campaign to consider however, as they travel to

Atletico Madrid for the first leg of the Champions

League semi-final next Tuesday.

The coming days will test the depth of Mourinho’s

squad, although Eden Hazard is the only significant

injury concern and the Belgian winger could yet

recover in time to face Sunderland.

Hazard missed last weekend’s victory at Swansea

after limping out of the Champions League win over

Paris Saint Germain and will not be risked with the

Atletico game looming.

Chelsea’s Czech Republic goalkeeper Cech believes

the squad possesses enough experience and

know-how to handle the test ahead.

“It’s very tough to play three huge games in a row

but that’s why we are a top club,” he said.

- ‘Forget about opposition’ -

Meanwhile, Poyet has never given up hope that

Sunderland will escape relegation this season,

although even the manager admitted to doubts

before their fine performance at City.

They achieved a 2-2 draw which won’t alter his

belief that a major overhaul of the club is required,

but it is possible they will still be a Premier league

club next season when Poyet hopes to start the

transformation.

“It was an excellent performance by us against

City,” Poyet said.

“It’s the sort of performance which going to give us

confidence. I don’t like using that word, but it is

true.

“It will give us a bit of hope against Chelsea. Now

the players will believe they might get something.

“We have to think about ourselves in these games

against the top teams. We have to think about

passing, creating, defending, running and tackling.

“We have to forget about the opposition and

concentrate on ourselves. It is not easy but we

achieved that against City and we have to do that in

the remaining games.

“We have to concentrate on what we might do right,

rather than what the opposition might do right.”

Sunderland were denied a victory at Eastlands by a

late mistake by their goalkeeper, Vito Mannone, who

has been one of their outstanding individuals in an

unhappy season.

Mannone will retain his place at Stamford Bridge in

a Sunderland side that is likely to be unchanged

since Phil Bardsley, their defender, remains

suspended.

Connor Wickham, scorer of both goals at City, has

virtually guaranteed himself a place in the side for

their remaining games of the season.

The striker was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday

and Leeds earlier this season, but has impressed

since being recalled.

“When I came to the club there were five or six

strikers, so it was impossible to play them all,”

Poyet said.

“Connor was young so I let him go out on loan and

he did well so we brought him back. If he delivers,

he keeps playing — it’s that simple.”