Chelsea are in the Premier League title race this season, according to former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.
The Blues are back in league action on Wednesday night as they take on bottom-of-the-table Southampton at St Mary’s. Enzo Maresca’s side go into the game as clear favourites sitting in third place in the table.
Chelsea are on the same points as Arsenal - nine points behind leaders Liverpool. But while the Gunners are considered as challengers to both the Reds and Man City, Chelsea are not being talked about in the same breath.
Giving his Premier League predictions to BetVictor , Redknapp firmly believes that the team can challenge for the title. “Whisper it, but Chelsea are firmly in this title race,” he said.
“I don’t think Enzo Maresca is getting enough credit for the job he’s doing here. I know people will say they had a lot of talent in the squad, but he’s really getting the most out of it.”
He’s predicted that Chelsea will come out as 2-0 winners over the Saints, adding: “I’ve got to go with Chelsea, they look so good going forward.”
Redknapp’s suggestion that Chelsea are in the race for the title doesn’t tally with the opinion of head coach Enzo Maresca. When asked if he still believed that his team was not in the race during his pre-match press conference , he said: "Absolutely, yes."
He then added: “To be in the title race, it is a nice pressure for me and the players. It's not that kind of pressure that you don't like. It's that kind of pressure that you like because you are in the title race but it is not our case.
“Arsenal, in the last two years, they were very, very close to City and Liverpool, they have been there. We were not there. Hopefully soon we can be there."
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