EPL: Defeat at Stamford Bridge will end Manchester United's title hopes

Adapted from Daily Star

David Moyes and Jose Mourinho

The champions travel to Chelsea knowing another defeat would put them out of the title race once and for all this season.

United could be 14 points behind leaders Arsenal by the time they go into battle against Jose Mourinho’s men.

It promises to be a do-or-die encounter for Moyes and the under-fire United boss knows what is at stake.

The Blues have never lost a home league game under Mourinho and Moyes said: “Yes it’s a big game.

“For us to try and hang in there and pick up the points, there is no doubt about that.

“It’s a great record they have there at Stamford Bridge. So we will need to try and change that.

“But there are a lot of games to be played. We need to see if we can just pick up the games. Our league form hasn’t been that bad.

“The one game we lost (against Tottenham) should at the worst have been a draw.

“I think this will be a tight game. I think Chelsea are improving. I think they have started to find their balance with their forward players and have real talent with players like Willian, Oscar, and Eden Hazard in behind whichever centre forward they pick. They have a talented team.”

Moyes reckons a win at the Blues could transform a faltering season that has seen United get dumped out of the FA Cup at the first attempt and set losing records for all the wrong reasons.

But he is still refusing to look too far ahead and he added: “It’s a chance to set up a really good 10 days for us.

 “It’s a great record they have there at Stamford Bridge, we will need to try and change that”

David Moyes

“The team here have been used to big games over the years and I don’t think they will see this one as any different.

“It was a tight game against Chelsea at the start of the year and I don’t think this one will be any different.

“We have had a win against Swansea and we have a cup tie on Wednesday (Capital One Cup semifinal) so we could find it becomes a really important 10 days.

“Chelsea is a big game and always has been. We are looking forward to it.

“But I am just thinking about trying to win the next game. Given the position we are in, it would be wrong for me to come out and say something I couldn’t back up or justify.

“So I am okay winning the next game. The longer it goes the more I can start to think about what’s down the line.

“But I would always be thinking about being at the top. I wouldn’t think about being anywhere else.”

Moyes, meanwhile, insists he has not had a bust-up with unsettled star Wilfried Zaha and has confirmed out-of-favour midfielder Anderson is poised to join Fiorentina on-loan for the rest of the season, while Robin van Persie will return to training next week following a thigh problem.