Gary O’Neil
Cherries currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, level with Frank Lampard’s Blues on 39 points. That gap has been closed after a stellar month from O’Neil’s men in April, where they recorded five wins from seven matches. Meanwhile, Chelsea have collected just one point from their past six league matches over the past month, losing each of the last four. Put to him that some could be expecting Cherries to win the contest, despite the London club splashing out more than £500million across the past two transfer windows,
Gary O’Neil said: “We’re definitely not favourites for tomorrow, absolutely no chance. Chelsea are a very good side with fantastic players. It hasn’t clicked yet. If it clicks tomorrow, it’s a tough afternoon for the lads and we need to be at 100 per cent, as we have been for the last few to give Chelsea a real good game. I think it would be silly of us or anyone to think that we’re a better side than Chelsea going into this football match. They’re still very, very dangerous and have fantastic players all over the pitch, World Cup winners, Thiago Silva, an absolute superstar, fantastic centre-back. They have a good side and when it starts to click for them, I’m sure they will be very, very dangerous.”
Asked what he would have thought if he was told when he took over Cherries back in August that they would have the chance to leapfrog Chelsea this weekend,
Gary O’Neil said: “Of course, I wouldn’t have believed them. Not because of where we are, really, but because of where Chelsea are. I think everybody in the country is surprised that is hasn’t really happened for Chelsea with the high levels that they set themselves. It’s been a disappointing season so far for them. I still think, especially the players, will be coming here with an eye on next season and making sure they finish this season strongly. They’re a dangerous team with fantastic players. I’ve watched a lot of their recent games and they’ve not managed to win one recently, but, obviously, they still have some world-class players that could cause you problems.”
