By James Dall Last updated: 25th April 2008
Carvalho: Confident
Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho believes Manchester United are set to crack under the pressure of leading the Premier League title race.
The Blues host United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1, aware that anything but a victory would effectively end their title hopes.
Chelsea lie three points behind Sir Alex Ferguson's leaders with three games remaining, while United boast a superior goal difference.
But Carvalho has backed his team-mates to pull off a dramatic turnaround, voicing his opinion that 'anything can happen' between now at the end of the season.
"If Chelsea win on Saturday then anything can happen in the last two league games because all of the pressure will be on Manchester United," Carvalho told the Daily Mirror.
"The Premier League title is like a bicycle race and we are chasing the leaders. But the nerves will show for United in the last few metres.
"This is the most important week of our season. We got the first good result at Anfield and we have put ourselves in a good position to reach the UEFA Champions League final.
"But now we can put ourselves alongside Manchester United in the league.
"To win against Manchester United would give us so much belief and morale. It's enormous for us because it means we can tie with them at the top of the table.
"A lot of people have written us off in the title race. But we are ready for the biggest games of our season and we are ready physically and mentally for the challenge.
"For the whole of the season I have insisted that we can win the double and each time, with every game it becomes more feasible.
"The draw at Anfield has only increased our morale and confidence for the game against Manchester United.
"But we know we have to go for three points. A point will be decisive for United and that will be a great result for them."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
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