Premier League - Hiddink: Title is out of reach

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Apr 12:02:00 2009

Guus Hiddink is ready to concentrate on a cup double after conceding Chelsea are realistically out of the race for the Premier League title.

2008-2009 Chelsea Guus Hiddink - 0

Hiddink insisted that it was now time to focus on the Champions League and the FA Cup after their goalless stalemate against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Chelsea face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Nou Camp next Tuesday and Hiddink is considering giving some of his players a rest against West Ham on Saturday.

He is already without centre-half Ricardo Carvalho for the trip to Spain, the Portuguese having suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

But in a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final at the end of May, Chelsea and Everton served up an entertaining draw that was dominated by goalkeepers.

Chelsea's Petr Cech and Everton's Tim Howard produced fine solo performances to preserve the deadlock which, coupled with Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, put an end to any remaining title ambitions for Hiddink's side.

The Blues are six points adrift of leaders United who have a game in hand and Hiddink knows the title is no longer a realistic ambition.

"It is difficult but we now have to focus on only two other roads - the Champions League and, later on in May, Everton again in the FA Cup final," admitted Hiddink.

"Everyone is disappointed. We knew it was difficult to go for the title so when you drop two points there is disappointment of course. But this team is able to cope with that and focus ourselves on the difficult game against Barcelona next week."

Cech starred in the opening half when he twice denied Everton striker Jo and then midfielder Tim Cahill.

In the second period it was the turn of Howard to keep Chelsea at bay as he prevented Lampard and Kalou from scoring with fine saves.

Ivorian hitman Didier Drogba almost won it for Chelsea when his volley crashed against the crossbar in stoppage time but Steven Pienaar and Cahill also squandered late chances to win it for the Toffees.

The result kept Everton in sixth place, a point behind Aston Villa, but boss David Moyes determined to overhaul them.

"It means a lot to me to finish fifth," said Moyes. "If we do it this year it will be four top-six finishes out of five. So what we've done is a decent effort and Everton are becoming a side that is competing at a top level."

Moyes paid tribute to his players who produced another hardworking performance after their gruelling victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend.

"It was a good point under the circumstances after playing 120 minutes on Sunday," said Moyes. "We didn't have a massive amount of recovery before coming here to play a team who are in good form. So I think a point was a good result for us.

"The players have been playing great all season and I have to say well done to them. This was another terrific effort from them.

"We had some good chances but I thought Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott were terrific at the back."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. chelsea need wingers kalou hasnt got enough quality to­ play for chelsea or anelka , malouda altough he has­ played well recently .......... we ar 2 direct and way­ 3 predictable .... united to win the league .....­ barcelona willl win the champions league and chelsea 2­ hopefully lift the fa cup

    From adam, on Fri 24 Apr 6:19AM

  2. where is quaresma ?????

    From adam, on Fri 24 Apr 6:16AM

  3. Tittle is not in reach for Chelsea. That's for­ sure. I think it's gonna be an exciting climax­ involving Liverpool and Man Utd.

    From Vlad, on Fri 24 Apr 3:58AM

  4. DONT WORRY CHELSEA'FANS,HE WHO FIGHT AND RUN AWAY­ LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY,AS FAR
    AS WE CAN KEEP OUR­ QUALITY PLAYERS,EXPECIALY DROGBA,THE BEST STRIKER IN­ THE WORLD.
    ALSO KEEP ESSIEN,LAMPARD,TERRY,BALARK.BRING­ MORINHO BACK,HE IS NOT HAPPY IN SERIA A.
    I WILL NEVER­ BLAME HIM.ANY COUCH WHO LEFT THE PREMIERSHIP LEAGUE­ WITH THE BEST RECORD
    SHOULD ALWAYS BE WELCOME BACK­ HOME,COME ON IBRAHIMO VEACH.GET MORINHO BACK.

    From Ralph Awudu, on Fri 24 Apr 12:08AM

  5. ha ha well said hiddink your team were never going to­ win and as for united well there just as bad! lol­ liverpool an d arsenal for the top!!!!! from a boro fan

    From smiley123, on Thu 23 Apr 10:22PM

  6. Rafa should follow suit and concede, but then the­ arrogant goat wants to wait till Man Utd play Arsenal,­ by which time the league could be won already!

    From thechrez, on Thu 23 Apr 9:56PM

  7. man Utd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From thechrez, on Thu 23 Apr 9:52PM

  8. Gary Murray:
    What sort of photo is that on here? Are­ you another one of those­ "hardmen"....lol.....lolololol

    From sappercommando25, on Thu 23 Apr 7:44PM

  9. I think that the continentals are full of themselves­ and hot air. At the end of the day, just having what is­ the the British, an exotic nickname, doesn't mean­ that they possess the exotic talent on the field. What­ happens on the field is the reality of the game. Odd­ how the so called "stars" from the continent­ suffer one recurring problem after another on arrival­ at the Premiership.

    From sappercommando25, on Thu 23 Apr 7:42PM

  10. Haha, i knew it was coming.

    From isaac.keown, on Thu 23 Apr 7:40PM

  11. Chelsea were a far better side when they actually­ bothered to use the width of the pitch. Arjen Robben­ and Damien Duff were amazing on the wings, now that­ they've sold them both and brough in Ballack and­ Essien everything is played just straight down the­ middle through Lampard.

    Their strike force isn't­ much cop either, Kalou and Mikel are absolutely useless­ infront of goal, Anelka can only score by goal hanging,­ which leaves Drogba the only striker doing the business­ upfront. Drogba has terrific strength and can be a­ major threat for defenders due to his large frame and­ tenacity (atleast he is when he isn't rolling on­ the ground for 5 minutes, screaming in agony after a­ slight knock from a defender half his size and weight,­ only to suddenly experience a miracalous recovery when­ Chelsea bounce on the attack).

    As much as i'd­ like to see another all English final I doubt Chelsea­ will be able to beat Barecelona, but then I thought­ that in 2005 when they lost the 1st leg at Nou Camp, so­ who knows. Funny old game football is.

    From RYAN, on Thu 23 Apr 7:20PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I watched both games last night and i swear there was­ more atmostphere at jade goodys funneral than there was­ at the two games. shocking.

    From em.power1, on Thu 23 Apr 6:15PM

  13. Chelsea need to sign David Silva and Sergio Agüero for­ next season.

    And maybe get rid of Cech!

    From RossG, on Thu 23 Apr 6:07PM

  14. man u is the team of the moment and they will be in­ contention for the next four seasons.they have great­ youthful players who can go all the way.kudos to them. ­ from collins popoola

    From popson, on Thu 23 Apr 6:06PM

  15. man u is the team of the moment and they will be in­ contention for the next four seasons.they have great­ youthful players who can go all the way.kudos to them. ­ from collins popoola

    From popson, on Thu 23 Apr 6:06PM

  16. Rafa should follow suit and concede the title hopes, we­ basically six points adrift Liverpool, Go United for­ the kill in these run in's!

    From Brian, on Thu 23 Apr 5:43PM

  17. chelsea is stil a big team and can stil win­ trophies.all is not lost,we need a playmaker.good game

    From Sandress, on Thu 23 Apr 5:36PM

  18. Ill admit that barring a miracle The title is uniteds.­ I take comfort in the fact that liverpool will fininsh­ second. In saying that nothing is certain, if Arsenal­ can get a result against utd and then they suffer one­ more bad result the Liverpool have a slim (and i mean­ Slim) chance of winning it. I know its unlikely but i­ can live in hope.
    Come on liverpool !! YOULL NEVER WALK­ ALONE !

    From DJ Viper, on Thu 23 Apr 5:32PM

  19. lets wait and c, u know that most goals are scored­ during concentration time, so english league is at­ concentration time. anything is possible. if u think im­ goin crazy think about liverpool's previous games.­ their opponents thought they have sealed that 90 min­ games, after injury time it was level. I HAVE A POINT.­ HA HA HA HU.

    From mompati, on Thu 23 Apr 4:58PM

  20. Chelsea can't win because there are no Ricardo­ Quaresma on field!!!

    From dryuhaha, on Thu 23 Apr 4:55PM
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