Quite a lot has been said about our run-in and the relatively easier games Chelsea have, but it does depend on how you look at it.
We've shown our ability to raise our game, particularly at home, and when you have the likes Manchester United coming to N17 then I don't think we will need any extra motivation. Actually, I think having such big games in our run-in may help distract us from any pressure that we could potentially feel. For example, say Chelsea lose and we only have to win to go top, you just know that if that game was against Sunderland where everyone expects us to get 3pts, we'd balls it up! That's because we are not focussing on the opponent and what we have to do beat them, as we are supposed to beat them easily. Instead we begin to focus on the pressure of NOT beating them and that often becomes self-fulfilling.
I guarantee that will not be an issue against United or Woolwich. It could be against West Ham but, again, because it is derby and because of last season (when they beat us in the same fixture during our title-chasing run-in) I suspect we will have no issue raising our game.
It's similar for the Leicester game too. They ARE the Champions, and the team which beat us to it last year. We'll need no greater motivation. However, for them, I just don't see why they would push themselves to beat us. Maybe to do Chelsea a favour, seeing as Chelsea supposedly drew against us so Leicester could win the League but, come on, that's a stretch. A few people said it was unfortunate Leicester got knocked out the UCL the other night as they no longer have European distractions. Actually, I think it may be the best thing which could've happened as they no longer have anything to play for. They're comfortably safe mid-table and, I guarantee that, having pushed themselves so hard to do something special in Europe, now it's over more than a few players will have their bags packed ready for the summer hols!
Funnily enough, Hull are the ones who worry me. Last game of the season at their ground, where they may well still have a faint chance of staying up if they win, with a manager who has not lost a home game in 3 years! They're the only team which not only is there an expectation for us to beat, but as a club on their own terms have no real means of motivating our players. That spells danger to me. The only interesting factor about Hull in relation to us is all the ex-Spurs who play there. However, that too may work against us as, if they have to win to stay up, they won't be feeling sentimental over the 90min!
That said, Chelsea's "easy" run-in may work against them for precisely these reasons. It's very hard to see how the likes of Boro or Sunderland can do anything against Chelsea, but that might just mean they take their eye off the ball. Both clubs will only be playing for pride by that point most likely and, as we found out against Newcastle, with the pressure of relegation taken away they might just feel freed up a bit, whereas Chelsea will have nothing but pressure as, come on, they HAVE to beat these guys and the title is theirs! Easy! But what if...?
