Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: We can make Chelsea's bad week worse
Alex McLeish believes Birmingham City are capable of giving Chelsea a third bad weekend in a row by making it three defeats in four matches for the Premier League champions. [LNB]Having lost to Liverpool and Sunderland and with John Terry and Alex missing in central defence through injury, Chelsea go to St. Andrews on Saturday looking unusually vulnerable. [LNB] Whistle happy: Birmingham manager Alex McLeish[LNB]'I don't think we will pip Chelsea for the league,' McLeish said, 'but can we win a home game against Chelsea? That's achievable. I'm not saying we will, I am saying we can and it is achievable. [LNB]'I've just got to say to my players and our fans that we've got to ensure Chelsea are going back down south saying 'what a game that was, what a game they gave us.' Whether that means we can win it or get something from it, whatever, we'll be going for it. [LNB]'They have had two. It is very rare to see the top teams losing three weekends in a row. But it is achievable and we can do it.' [LNB]McLeish was back in Aberdeen yesterday, where he made his name as a player under Alex Ferguson. McLeish said he has spoken to Ferguson this week and the Manchester United manager had expressed his surprise at the state of the Premier League. [LNB] Body blow: Chelsea skipper John Terry could face a lengthy period out of action[LNB]'As things stand, there's four points between us and ninth place,' McLeish added. 'I spoke to Sir Alex the other day and he said it's a freakish league this season, a false league, those were the words he used. I thought, well, you can see where he is coming from. [LNB]'I do think everybody has got better. I think the competition in the Premier League is stronger than ever. The teams in the lower half of the table are all capable. The results have shown that; West Brom going to Arsenal and winning, Blackpool getting some incredible results as well. That shows just how competitive it really is.' [LNB]McLeish said he has detected a change in attitude towards the established Champions League clubs. [LNB]He said: 'What you are finding is that a lot of teams are saying they are going to "have a go." I think that has been a change. We went to Man City last week and played with two up. Brian Kidd spoke to us after the game and said they were a bit surprised that we pressed them so high.' [LNB]McLeish also noted Chelsea's defensive uncertainty against Sunderland. He has 6ft 7in Nikola Zigic to worry Carlo Ancelotti further. [LNB] [LNB] Top class! Birmingham boss McLeish heaps praise on goalkeeper FosterDidn't you play for Barcelona? McLeish tells struggling Hleb to prove his class[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: John Terry, Brian Kidd, Alex McLeish, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Liverpool
