Shaun Wright-Phillips has named Chelsea as the team to beat in the Premier League this campaign & says they will ‘pip’ Man City to the title because they are not playing at full capacity yet.
Chelsea, who last won the league title back in 2016, have started the new season with four wins and a draw in their first five games, including a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
After winning the UEFA Champions League last season, Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez to an already star-studded team during the summer in a bid to challenge on all fronts this campaign.
- Top 10 – Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes Lionel Messi as the highest-paid footballer
- Steve McManaman questions Chelsea consistency in race to win the Premier League
- Ferdinand names Chelsea star as the best defender in the Premier League
Wright-Phillips believes Chelsea, who play host to Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday, are too strong for the rest of their competition.
‘I have to be honest and right this second, I think Chelsea would pip City to the title,’ the ex-Premier League player told Metro.co.uk via Bonus Finder.
‘The fact that they don’t have to play well and still come away with 3-0 wins is unbelievable and [Thomas] Tuchel has even said they haven’t played well yet.
‘He still wants more from his team and wants them to play his way still, but they’re coming away with these wins still. ‘If I could be a manager and say that every week, then I’d be over the moon.’
Wright-Phillips also praised the key role of Tuchel in turning the Blues into a ‘well-oiled machine’ since he replaced Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
‘I think when Frank Lampard was in charge the attack looked really fluent, but they were conceding too many goals,’ he added.
‘Tuchel came in and assured that defence up, at first it looked like the defence and midfield were two separate teams. As soon as it started coming together, you can see it runs like a well-oiled machine.
‘They might not always play attractive football, but they get results, and they don’t mind not having the ball in spells because they can hit teams on the counter.’
