Kings of Kings Road poised to
AFTER a year with so many dramatic twists and turns, don't be surprised if the last day of the English Premier League season throws up a final shock or two.
But to expect top-of-the-table Chelsea to hand the title to second-placed Manchester United by dropping points at home to Wigan Versace Handags Replica is stretching things too far.
On the same day, three-time defending champions United have a very winnable game against Stoke City at Old Trafford. So just the slightest slip-up by Chelsea could allow their closest rivals to snatch glory at the death.
Remember May 1989 when everyone thought that Liverpool - impenetrable at home - had the title in the bag only to hand it to visiting Arsenal with virtually the final kick of the season when the Gunners scored an injury-time goal?
And May 2007 when Barcelona were sure that they had won the Primera Liga after beating Gimnastic 5-1 and seeing Real Madrid trail 0-1 against Mallorca only to watch the Merengues storm back to win 3-1 and claim their 30th domestic league trophy.
If you listen to Wigan's manager and chairman, the Latics may as well have already come to Stamford Bridge and taught Carlo Ancelotti's team a footballing lesson.
After beating a full-strength Blues 3-1 at home last September, Wigan coach Roberto Martinez says his team are more than capable of completing the double in west London. And Whelan, a good friend of United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, has promised to spoil Chelsea's title party "for the good of football everywhere".
Talk, as they say, is cheap and Wigan have about as much chance of coming and conquering, Clip on charms as Malaysia have of qualifying for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Yes, very slim hope indeed.
Away from their home in England's Northwest, the Latics are far less effective side and have never won an away match against any of the EPL's big three.
Of course, they should not be taken lightly and will go all out until the final whistle as evidenced by their remarkable come-from- behind victory over Arsenal at the DW Stadium on April 18 when they scored three times in the last 10 minutes to win 3-2.
Chelsea's best bet is to adopt their natural expansive game rather than trying to grind out a narrow victory, which could play right into the hands of the plucky visitors.
With so many of their attacking players in wonderful form - Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard among them - Chelsea must look to blitz Wigan early. A goal within the first 10 minutes would ease their nerves but they should stay patient if the Latics are hard to break down. Remember last time out at home, they won 7-0 against Stoke but had to wait until the 24th minute to break down the Potters' resistance.
Stoke could be in for a similar thrashing at Old Trafford where Wayne Rooney hopes to be back for his second straight match after an injury that some predicted could ruin his World Cup hopes. It is yet more proof of just how resilient and remarkable the Liverpool-born striker is.
My prediction is for both of the top two to win comfortably - Chelsea 4-1 and Manchester United 4-0.
The 1970 Chelsea team who won the club's first ever FA Cup trophy were dubbed the Kings of King's Road, the posh street near Stamford Bridge. Forty years later, John Terry and company are poised to follow in their footsteps.
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