Blue thunder in store at the Bridge

HOW quickly the landscape in the Premier League changes; just a week ago critics were united in the opinion that this is the best possible time to play a crisis-torn Chelsea and the worst possible moment to take on leaders Manchester City.

But when the two meet at Stamford Bridge in a potentially season-defining match tonight it’s almost as if the positions have been reversed.

Chelsea, buoyed by a tremendous performance on the pitch against Valencia last week and by a resounding display by their manager in the press conference room the same night, have suddenly been transformed by a rush of confidence.

When you take into consideration a 3-0 away victory at Newcastle United eight days ago, only Newcastle’s first home defeat of the season, and the powerful performances of striker Didier Drogba in both matches, there is real justification to say Andre Villas-Boas’ side will go into tonight’s fixture believing they could soon be back in the title race.

City, by contrast, have it all to lose. Top of the league (10 points clear of Chelsea) and unbeaten so far, an almost perfect campaign was interrupted in midweek by the realisation that their Champions League dream was ending early.

So they arrive in west London with the extra pressure of knowing a couple of bad results now (City face Arsenal at home next weekend too) and suddenly an entire season could start to slip in the space of 10 days; and you only have to speak to Arsene Wenger to find out how that feels.

“It’s a massive game for us,” admitted City defender Joleon Lescott. “But it’s exactly the kind of game you want straight after going out of the Champions League.

“It all starts now really. It’s always important to have a good run of form over the Christmas period. We can’t afford to allow the disappointment of the Champions League to spill over.

“I still see Chelsea as title contenders, especially after their last two performances. We know they will be on a high and it’s important we go there and win.”

Lescott will have the unenviable task of marking Drogba, who looked back to his very best against Valencia as Chelsea won 3-0 to earn their place in the last 16 of the Champions League and even finish top of their group.

“I didn’t need to see Didier play last Tuesday to know he’s a great player,” said Lescott. “Obviously his performance was outstanding. I know it’s going to be a tough test but I’ll be ready.”

Chelsea’s title ambitions could hinge on the result of this match, although even victory will fail to win over critics who suggest the departure of Drogba to the African Nations Cup in January will make it impossible for them to complete the job.

But City are confident their season will not be derailed at this crucial stage of the campaign.

“The Premier League is the trophy that comes first, it’s the biggest ambition for us right now,” insisted Lescott. “It was always our major target this year so I don’t think anyone will allow our levels to drop just because we are out of the Champions League.

“We’ve done well in the big matches so far; I’m not saying we’re thinking we can go there and score six like we did at United — it was a bit of a shock to us to go to Old Trafford and score six goals. But if teams don’t apply themselves right then we have the players to punish them.”

That perhaps is what will scare Chelsea the most; because although Drogba is firing on all cylinders once more there are still huge question marks over a defence that has kept only a handful of clean sheets all season and which is likely to include potential time-bomb David Luiz.

In truth it’s hard to see Chelsea seriously challenging for the championship unless money is spent in January and City, against all the odds, suffer a collapse; but while the door is still open goalkeeper Petr Cech refuses to give up hope.

“This could be another big moment for us,” he insisted. “If we win this match then the Premier League table will start to look different. We can still catch City because there are so many games to be played. The gap at the moment is a big advantage to Manchester City but there is a long, long way to go and it can change.

“The important thing for us right now is that we have our belief back. That’s a big step.”