Norwich boss Alex Neil aiming to prolong Chelsea slump
Friday 20 November 2015 17:11, UK
Norwich manager Alex Neil believes Chelsea will get back to their best in time but is keen to heap more pressure on Jose Mourinho on Saturday.
The champions host Norwich with Mourinho back in the dugout following his stadium ban, but remaining under scrutiny after defeat at Stoke before the international break left his side in 16th spot.
The Scot, whose team are one point and one place above Chelsea, feels a long-overdue Premier League win for the Blues will not be long in coming, but hopes his well-organised side can extend the wait for at least another week.
"Everybody is thinking why has it happened, but with the quality they have got, Chelsea are capable of turning it around," Neil said. "They were the top team in the country last year, but we just have to hope that slump continues so we can get something out of the match.
"The capability of what they have as a squad is really high, it is no secret they have not been hitting those capabilities this year. However, we have to make sure we are at our best, to play as well as we can and if we do that, then we have a chance.
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"We have to make it as difficult as we can for them and try to implement our style on the game, to test them and see how they respond."
Neil set his side up somewhat defensively at Manchester City before the break, where the visitors almost secured a creditable point, but refuted suggestions he would look to 'park the bus' at Stamford Bridge.
"The fact I went that way against Manchester City does not have any bearing on the Chelsea match tactically in setting the team up," he said. "Our focus will be getting the best out of what we have got in the squad, not them.
"They have got quality internationals all over their squad, so sometimes when you are playing the bigger teams away from home, you have to find a different dynamic which gives us an advantage.
"That does not mean we sit everyone behind the ball, but we have to have some kind of game plan which gives us the best chance of getting something."
Neil also ruled out allowing Northern Ireland forward Kyle Lafferty to leave the club ahead of the Football League's emergency loan deadline following an enquiry from Leeds.
"I told [Leeds manager] Steve [Evans] that Kyle is not going," he said. "There will be no more players going out on loan or leaving the club in any shape or form until January. We can sit down and look at it then. Kyle knows the situation."