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Ballack homes in on regaining title
Leo Spall, Evening Standard31 Jan 2008
Michael Ballack insisted today that fortress Stamford Bridge will decide the outcome of the Premier League title race.
Chelsea may trail Manchester United and Arsenal by four points but the top two still face daunting trips to their rival's home ground, where they are unbeaten in the League for four years.
Their extraordinary record was extended to 75 games with last night's 1-0 win against Reading, and Ballack believes it can give his side the edge.
He said: "The top teams cannot afford to relax and there is no room for error. It is a good season for the fans because it is very close and open.
"We hope to take our chance if they slip up, but we have to wait. Maybe, this season, the big games will make the difference.
"The title could be decided at Stamford Bridge and when these games come, we hope to have one or two important players back."
Arsenal go to Chelsea in March and United visit in April. Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel will all be back from African Nations' Cup duty and injured stars such as John Terry and Frank Lampard should be available.
Ballack, whose impressive performance and headed winner against Reading kept the pressure on the top two, said: "I think we have what it takes. The games we lost against United and Arsenal this season were very close and were away.
"In these big games you always have a little advantage if you play at home. You should use this advantage and we want to do that.
"Everybody believes in their stadium and we do to, especially with our record. Nobody else has this.
"It has an effect on other teams. We are very strong at home and everybody knows this. We do not want to give away our record and will fight for it, especially in those games."
Arsenal have to go to Old Trafford as well as Stamford Bridge before the end of the season and Avram Grant insisted his Chelsea side have got their rivals looking over their shoulders despite a catalogue of problems with injury and absence. The manager, who revealed Ashley Cole will be back at Portsmouth after missing three games to deal with problems in his private life, said: "I think United always look at us and say 'why are Chelsea winning so much', but Sir Alex Ferguson is doing his job and Arsenal are doing theirs.
"I wanted to be in the same position after January and then anything can happen.
"We are concentrating on what we are doing with half-an-eye on them, and I think they are doing the same."
