“The manager told us before the game he didn't want us staggering
into the Champions League but that is what we have done. We
need to start playing winning football again, even if it
means doing it the ugly way.

“Wednesday's game is a massive one for us now and hopefully it will
bring out the best in us as it has done in the past. But if
we play anything like we have done in the last couple of
weeks we will be out of the competition.”

As for the title race, Phil refuses to concede just yet but
recognises that it will be difficult to win it now:

“We are not giving up but we have given ourselves a mountain to
climb. Leeds United are at the bottom of the table and we
have aspirations at the top, so if we can't win games like
that we are not going to win the Premiership. Now we have to
hope Arsenal slip up, which is something they don't look
like doing. There is talent in our squad but we are in other
people's hands now and that is not a good position to be
in.”

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has warned Arsenal not to feel too
secure just yet:

"Nine points is too much for us to make up. Maybe not for
Manchester United [who are seven points behind Arsenal], but
we are still building.

"Until now, Arsenal have deserved to stay at the top. But
last season, they started to slow down and it's not easy to
play with just 14 or 15 players in the FA Cup, Premier
League and Champions League.”