Premier League Preview: Chelsea vs. Stoke City

Chelsea could be off the top spot in the Premier League by the time their game against Stoke City kicks off, a fact that should sharpen the mind against an opponent that has caused them problems in the past.

Carlo Ancelotti might have said that he will not watch Manchester United's match with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday — preferring instead to go to the cinema to watch Clash of the Titans — but surely he will tear himself away from the petty disputes of the Greek gods long enough to see whether Sir Alex Ferguson's side take their chance to go two points clear and create some real drama in a title race that looks destined to go right to the death.

Ancelotti's side have already faced Stoke twice this season, and both times they have won. But neither have been easy games — the league fixture at the Britannia Stadium needed a last minute Florent Malouda strike to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win, while the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge last month saw Chelsea run out 2-0 winners in an efficient if not exhilarating performance.

What is more, the Blues go into the game off the back of a disappointing defeat to rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. With John Terry suspended for Sunday's clash, after a sending off in that defeat, and Didier Drogba clearly struggling with a hernia injury that is only getting more problematic, Ancelotti has his fair share of selection headaches ahead of the game.

With the likely knowledge that only three points will do, the pressure will certainly be on Chelsea to get a result.

Stoke, on the other hand, are one of the few sides lucky enough to have few worries as the season comes to a close. Comfortably clear of the relegation zone, the Potters also have no hope of sneaking European qualification. But Tony Pulis is not a manager to rest on his laurels, and has already implored his side to surpass last season's 45-point tally (they currently have 43). With that in mind, he will surely set his side to go out there to at least grab a point and derail the Blues' title challenge.

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea

Apr 17: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
Apr 13: Chelsea 1-0 Bolton Wanderers (Premier League)
Apr 10: Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea (FA Cup)
Apr 3: Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Mar 27: Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)

Stoke City

Apr 17: Stoke City 1-2 Bolton Wanderers (Premier League)
Apr 11: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Stoke City (Premier League)
Apr 3: Stoke City 2-0 Hull City (Premier League)
Mar 27: West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City (Premier League)
Mar 20: Stoke City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti revealed on Friday that Ashley Cole is fit to start, as is Branislav Ivanovic — who will likely slot in the centre of defence for the suspended John Terry. Ricardo Carvalho is still injured however, as is Michael Essien.

John Obi Mikel is considered a doubt for the game after coming off injured against Spurs, and will probably miss out giving Michael Ballack or Juliano Belletti a chance to step in.

Didier Drogba has been struggling this week with a hernia injury that may require surgery, and Ancelotti will make a late decision on whether or not the Ivorian will start.

Last starting XI (vs. Tottenham): Cech; Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov; Mikel, Deco, Lampard, Cole, Malouda; Drogba.

Stoke City

Defender Ryan Shawcross is back in the squad for the first time since picking up an ankle injury in February. Other than that striker Mamady Sidibe is the only major injury doubt for Pulis, the former Gillingham man is struggling with a groin problem.

Last starting XI (vs. Bolton): Sorensen; Higginbotham, Huth, Faye, Collins; Whelan, Lawrence, Whitehead, Tuncay, Delap; Kitson.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti's priority will be in ensuring his attackers break down what is a stubborn and resilient Stoke backline, and in that respect Florent Malouda will be crucial. The French international has been in scintillating form in recent months, proving the difference for his side in a number of games.

With Didier Drogba struggling with a hernia and Nicolas Anelka curiously inconsistent of late — not to mention with Ashley Cole potentially back to support him — Malouda will be tasked with creating Chelsea's best opportunities down the left flank.

Stoke City

Coming up against his former club, Robert Huth will be out to catch the eye once again. The German has become a key asset to Tony Pulis, giving his defence some stability and enviable quality for a mid-table side.

Huth, who also spent time at Middlesbrough, finally seems to be delivering on his vast potential and will be vital as the visitors aim to keep a clean sheet. German manager Joachim Low will be in attendance at Stamford Bridge, giving Huth an extra incentive to perform as he hopes to advance his outside chances of a World Cup summons.

Drogba Wants Strong Support

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has called on the fans to give them a final title push as Manchester United piled the pressure back on the Blues with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford.

The win put United back on top of the Barclays Premier League by two points but Chelsea will go back to the summit by a single point if they can overcome Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Chelsea's players have spent much of the week getting over their 2-1 reverse by Tottenham last weekend but they have the best home record in the top flight with only five points dropped from 17 games.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have won all three matches since the Manchester City reverse with 12 goals scored and two conceded and Drogba knows how important the home fans can be.

"You never know what can happen, games are difficult now," said Drogba. "Some teams are trying to save lives but some teams are playing for little and can enjoy themselves, and sometimes then you play better.

"It is going to be difficult, but it is up to us. We need the fans to be really behind us, to be even better than against Bolton in the last game.

"Sunday is the kind of game that we are going to have until the end of the season so we need them to be patient and to really shout and sing and be supportive, that is the only way to win it.

"I remember the games when we were champions, like against Charlton the game after we won it in 2005, and against Manchester United the next year. The atmosphere was amazing. These are the kinds of atmosphere from the Chelsea supporters when it matters, and now it matters. It is important for them to be there and help us to achieve it."

Following the setback against Spurs, Drogba believes the squad have done all they can on the training pitch to get back on track.

"As always we work hard in the week," he said. "Sometimes it is not only because you work hard that you win at the end of the week but we will do everything in our powers to arrive there with fresh legs.

"The motivation has to be high because there are only three league games to go and three wins and we are there."

In-form winger Florent Malouda is adamant there is no panic within the dressing room as they approach their must-win game with City.

"The manager was really upset after the game at Tottenham and we as players were disappointed with that performance because when you are thinking about winning the league, that is not the kind of performance that you want to do," said Malouda.

"You have to analyse what went wrong but we had two days off and we had to clean out our heads and then come back with a different attitude.

"The manager is always the same, he is staying cool and in control, and you think in a positive way and remind everybody that we are still one point in front. It is in our hands. Manchester United would like to be in our position and we must never forget that."

Meanwhile Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, 27, has admitted he faces a race to be fit in time for the World Cup finals after ruling himself out of Chelsea's season.

The Ghanaian midfielder, missing since December, failed to play in the majority of the African Nations Cup in January after sustaining a meniscus tear in training.

"Unfortunately I don't think I will be making a repeat of last season and may not be returning for the last few games and the FA Cup Final," he admitted. "As far as Chelsea goes I think my season is finished.

"I'm not too sure about the World Cup just yet. I will just have to wait and see what happens and take it day by day.

"Unfortunately you can't control when injuries will happen, but knowing the World Cup is on the horizon is certainly an incentive to keep working. But, I also have to keep an eye on the bigger picture.

"The most important thing now is to get myself back to full fitness. If I can make it in time for the World Cup then great, but if not I still have my whole career ahead of me and that is more important than anything.

"The last thing I want to do is rush back too soon and cause further problems down the line."

Ancelotti Hints At Summer Chelsea Changes

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has dropped a strong hint that some current members of his first-team squad will be shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Ancelotti has already confidently declared that Joe Cole will be extending his contract which expires at the end of the season.

However, the futures of fellow soon to be out-of-contract trio Michael Ballack, Paulo Ferreira and Juliano Belletti are far less certain.

Ancelotti also insists that any success or failure for his Premier League title and FA Cup chasing Blues this season will have no impact on his summer thinking.

"We are involved in very important competitions and we will take the decision after that," said the Italian.

"We have time because the season will finish May 15, and we will start in July, so we have May and June to take decisions about players without contracts. It does not depend on winning the league.

"The only sure thing is that next year there will be five players from the academy in the squad because they deserve to be.

"Some players maybe will move, because we want to give strength to our academy, we have very good young players and it is the time to put them in the squad for next year, they are able to stay in the Chelsea squad."

Low Set For Ballack Chat

Germany head coach Joachim Low has confirmed he is taking in Chelsea's clash with Stoke to assess Michael Ballack's form.

The vastly-experienced midfielder, who is closing on a century of caps for his country, is certain to be part of Germany's World Cup finals squad this summer.

Low insists the London trip is not unexpected and out of the blue and that he plans on holding talks with the former Bayern Munich man after the match.

Ballack has played in the last three European championships, the 2002 and 2006 World Cups along with captaining his country to the Euro 2008 final.

"We have had this visit planned for a while now," he told the German Football Association's (DFB) official website.

"After the game, we want to have a very relaxed chat with Michael."

Carlo Ancelotti Admits Letting Manchester United Win The Premier League Would Be His Failure

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes he will have failed if his side does not beat Manchester United to the Premier League title this season.

In fact, the wily Italian insisted he'll go to the cinema instead of watching his title rivals face Tottenham Hotspur.

“We have to win the league to make it a successful season,” Ancelotti told the Times.

“At this point of the season we have to win. I am excited because it’s a very important moment of the season, maybe the most important.

“Pressure is the engine of life. You have to cope with the pressure, the stress.

"That’s why, rather than watching the games, it’d be better to go to the cinema.

“We are not interested in Manchester United’s result. There are some fantastic films on: maybe Clash of the Titans,” he joked.

The Italian did concede his players are feeling the pressure but believes that is normal.

“The players feel the pressure now because Chelsea are very close to winning the title for the first time in four years," he added.

"But this is normal. It’s better to have this than to stay ten points behind and not have anything to play for.”

Blues Pull Plug On Torres Bid

Chelsea have seemingly ruled themselves out of the running to sign Liverpool's Fernando Torres after manager Carlo Ancelotti announced a significant shift towards youth in the club's transfer policy.

Instead of competing with Manchester City in a bidding war for Torres, Chelsea will instead promote five academy players into their first-team squad next season as they look to lower the average age of the team.

The new policy was first discussed following the Champions League defeat to Inter Milan and was ratified following a meeting with Blues owner Roman Abramovich last Monday.

"Next season there will be five academy players in the squad," Ancelotti said. "Some players will maybe move on. It's not because we don't have the money, it's because we want to give strength to our academy. We have very good young players and this is the time to put them in the squad for next year."

Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt and Nemanja Matic will step up to the first team.

Asked whether the club's supporters would be unhappy to miss out on Torres, or additional big name signings, Ancelotti said: "They'll be happy if Chelsea win the title and the FA Cup. After that, I think they will see some new players in the future."

Cole Focused Only On Football - Ancelotti

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti insists England left-back Ashley Cole is mentally prepared to return to first-team action following months of injury and personal turmoil.

The 29-year-old has recovered from the broken ankle he sustained against Everton back in February but his marriage to wife Cheryl remains in trouble following lurid headlines linking him to a string of other women.

Cole is expected to make a playing return against Stoke on Sunday as Chelsea prepare for another massive weekend in the title race, and Ancelotti said: "I think that he is focused, 100%, on playing football. Nothing else."

He added: "I think he passed a bad moment because the injury was very serious. But he has had time to recover very well, not only physically but also with a good mentality. Now he's fit 100%."

Chelsea will be without suspended captain John Terry and injured midfielder John Obi Mikel against Tony Pulis' side.

Ancelotti believes his players are ready to finish the job and become Premier League champions by winning their remaining three games.

"I've always said we have a very good squad, not only technically but with a good mentality," added the Italian.

"Sometimes we've lost some games but I think that now we have all the quality to finish the season well - technically and physically, but also mentally.

"The players are fresh. They don't have a problem. We looked a bit tired against Tottenham, but it was not a physical problem. We've trained very hard this week.

"The players are fit. When I say this, I am objective."

Essien Explains

Missing since December and a major doubt for the remainder of the campaign, Michael Essien has explained what has prevented his progress over the last few weeks.

The Ghanaian midfielder also admits he is unsure whether he will make the World Cup, having already missed the majority of the African Nations in January, the problem now being bruising rather than the meniscus tear he suffered on international duty.

'I started doing a little bit of running recently which was a big step forward but that led to some pain on the head of my fibula bone,' said the 27-year-old. 'A scan showed that I had some bruising there so I had to stop running and I am now taking it easy until the bruising dies down.

'It's a bit of a set back because up until then things had been going well and my actual knee is fine. It's just the bruising that's stopping me now.

'Unfortunately I don't think I will be making a repeat of last season and may not be returning for the last few games and the FA Cup Final,' he admitted. 'As far as Chelsea goes I think my season is finished.'

It is a tough blow for Essien, who has been restricted to 22 appearances this season but he still holds slim hopes of boarding the plane to South Africa.

'I'm not too sure about the World Cup just yet,' he said. 'I will just have to wait and see what happens and take it day by day. There are a couple of other players in my position - Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas spring to mind.

'Unfortunately you can't control when injuries will happen, but knowing the World Cup is on the horizon is certainly an incentive to keep working. But, I also have to keep an eye on the bigger picture.

'The most important thing now is to get myself back to full fitness. If I can make it in time for the World Cup then great, but if not I still have my whole career ahead of me and that is more important than anything. The last thing I want to do is rush back too soon and cause further problems down the line.'