Share

Benitez: Spurs game is vital

London - Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes his side's showdown with Tottenham will be a decisive moment in the battle to qualify for the Champions League.

The Blues are slugging it out with Tottenham and Arsenal to finish in the English Premier League's top four and the momentum swung back to Benitez's men on Sunday.

While Tottenham were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Everton, Chelsea secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sunderland which allowed the west Londoners to climb above Andre Villas-Boas's team into third place on goal difference.

Arsenal's recent resurgence has kept them firmly in the hunt as well, with the Gunners in fifth place two points behind Chelsea.

But Benitez is convinced the battle will be decided by Chelsea's clash with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, which is still to be rearranged after being postponed this weekend as a result of the Blues' FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

"We knew that we had to win and especially because they (Tottenham and Arsenal) will continue winning," Benitez told Chelsea TV on Monday.

"The main thing for me is the big picture, so keep calm. We have a good team, if we perform at our level we can win against anyone.

"You have some bad games and good games but it will be the same for them.

"We have to carry on. We have one game in hand on Tottenham so if we can do well, especially against them, maybe it's a game that can mean six points."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1842 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1809 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 468 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE