The Financial Gazette

Manager Carlo Ancelotti was relaxed about Chelsea's prospects of winning a first Premier League title in four years after they thrashed Stoke 7-0.

The Blues moved back above Manchester United and are a point clear at the top of the table with two games to play.

Ancelotti said: "There was a bit of pressure on us before the game but we gave a fantastic performance.

"I don't feel any pressure now. I am calm and quiet because the title is in our hands. We can decide our destiny."

Chelsea have a tough trip to Anfield to play Liverpool next weekend before completing their campaign at home to Wigan on 9 May.

Ancelotti knows six points from those games will secure a first title since 2006, no matter how Manchester United fare against Sunderland and Stoke in their remaining fixtures.

The margin of Chelsea's win against Stoke also means they have a superior goal difference to United but the Italian does not think that will be relevant.

"It won't come down to goal difference to decide it," Ancelotti added. "There will be one team that arrives in first place and another who arrives in second place.

"It's ours to lose. But that's a good thing. To have a title in our own hands is a good thing.

"We have scored a lot of goals this season, 93 in the Premier League now, and that's a very good record for us.

"This is our philosophy. We want to attack and to use the quality of my players. With this ability you have to score.

"But I would have preferred to keep two or three goals for next week. I forgot to tell my players this!

"It will be very difficult at Liverpool. They are a fantastic team still going for fourth place."

 I know that, if we win two games, we are champions. I hope we play against Liverpool like we played against Stoke

"We don't need to send a message to other teams," he explained. "This is a good message for us because after the defeat against Tottenham last week we needed a good reaction and we did that.

"It was an important game. We needed to come back to the top of the league after Manchester United's win, and we played very well.

"I think United will be able to win their games. They have Sunderland and Stoke, and every game is a different story, but our aim is to win two games.

"I know that, if we win two games, we are champions. I hope we play against Liverpool like we played against Stoke." - BBC Sport

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