Chelsea can still overtake United says Melchiot

MARIO MELCHIOT insists Chelsea can still overtake Manchester United in the title race as he believes Alex Ferguson’s side are not the force they once were.

However, the Chelsea full-back says United fans should stop giving Ryan Giggs a hard time as he rates the Welshman as the best left-winger in the world.

Like most realistic figures at Stamford Bridge, Melchiot accepts the title is probably beyond Chelsea’s reach as they are 11 points behind Arsenal.

While United and Newcastle are also ahead of the Blues, the Holland international insists there is no reason why his team cannot finish second in the table despite their 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend: “Arsenal are just a bit too much ahead, showing everyone they are a good side, but if I look at Manchester United, they are not the Manchester United of when I arrived here, so that’s maybe why we had so much confidence against them.

“If we keep playing how we have so far, we have a good chance of catching them.”

Melchiot arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 1999, after United clinched the treble, and while that was followed by two more titles, Ferguson’s side were trophyless last season.

The Dutchman told Chelsea TV: “At Arsenal, they have so many goalscorers. They play like a computer game. You always know what’s going to happen. When I arrived here, United were the same. They had Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke up front and were doing the business. They always knew what was going to happen.

“Now they don’t have it as good, but Arsenal do.”

Chelsea’s attentions now turn to the FA Cup, with a fourth-round trip to Shrewsbury on Sunday, although Melchiot is just as determined to qualify for the Champions League.

“We just want to do better than last year and reach the Champions League. If there’s one thing I really want, it’s that. Why should we not believe in that? I want to win the FA Cup but I also want to qualify for the Champions League as that’s the creme de la creme.”