‘Impossible’ for Chelsea to remain unbeaten, says Pardew
Jose Mourinho’s men maintained their unbeaten start to the current campaign by brushing aside Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Ahead of Chelsea’s visit to St James’s Park tomorrow (kick-off 12.45pm), Pardew hailed the quality of Mourinho’s men but said they were bound to slip up sooner or later.
Pardew said: “I think it’s difficult — obviously Arsenal have done it and Chelsea have come pretty close before.
“But not in all competitions — that is impossible and I think Jose has admitted that. But they’re making a very good job of it at the moment.
“It’s the best Chelsea team that I’ve ever seen and I’ve watched them since I was about 12 so I know them pretty well. I think Jose is pretty pleased with what he’s got.”
Pardew is hopeful captain Fabricio Coloccini will be able to make a return tomorrow after missing the best part of a month with a calf problem.
Coloccini has been training with his team-mates this week but Pardew must decide whether he is ready for what is likely to prove one of the toughest possible tests.
Pardew added: “Coloccini has been on the training ground but whether he’s got enough fitness levels to play a game of this level I don’t know. I can’t really give a clear message. ”
After Didier Drogba impressed for Chelsea in midweek the absence of Diego Costa, Loic Remy also reminded Jose Mourinho that he is ready, willing and able to provide the Blues with clinical finishes too.
Remy scored Chelsea’s third in Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat of Tottenham after Drogba, starting in place of the suspended Costa, had made one and scored another in the Premier League leaders’ comfortable win.
The France striker, who has recovered from a niggling groin problem, said: “When you’re a striker you want to score every game.
“The opportunity was there because Diego wasn’t involved. Didier played well again.
“For me it’s important. I took my chance and scored this goal. I can give him (Mourinho) another opportunity and he can count on me any time he wants.”
Chelsea, who failed to score for the first time this season at Sunderland last Saturday, began on the defensive as Spurs chased a first win at Stamford Bridge in almost 25 years, before Mourinho’s men stepped up.
“We know that we can score any time,” Remy added.
“The squad is really strong and that makes the difference between us and the other teams.
“We will keep going to try and keep the distance from our closest opponent. It’s six points and that’s really good. We try to continue in this way.”
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