By Martin Lipton
The bookies might be writing Chelsea off already after their catastrophic winter wobble, but Rafa Benitez last night pledged to hunt down Manchester's big two - just as he did to Real Madrid and Barcelona for his greatest Valencia triumph.
Benitez's Blues visit Sunderland on Saturday, knowing they could be a staggering 19 points adrift of Manchester United by the time they run out for their next Premier League game, with Aston Villa, on December 23.
The Spaniard, though, boosted by the return to arms of Frank Lampard, dismissed old foe Sir Alex Ferguson's suggestion of a two-horse race by promising the Blues still have what it takes to come from behind and steal the crown.
Benitez said: "I don't know what he has said and I'm not thinking about it. I'm only thinking of my team.
"But I'm not worried about the distance. It's important we win so we are close, but all we can do is think about one game at a time.
"We have to improve the team and be mentally strong enough to compete in the second part of the league.
"If we can be closer sooner rather than later, much better. Obviously we'll have our chances if we start winning games."
Benitez has personal history to back his belief after his final season at the Mestalla, when Real Madrid's huge advantage was overhauled as Valencia roared up from third to finish five points clear of Barcelona.
"At Valencia, we were eight points behind in February," he recalled. "If we have to do the same here, we will do it.
"But we have to show the same character. The main thing is about the evolution of our team. If we're stronger, we'll be able to win games in a row. We have to find form.
"My thoughts are clear: we have to win against Sunderland and we can be closer to at least one of them. That's what I have to do, concentrate on my team, my job."
That team will be stronger with the return of Lampard, although the veteran midfielder will not be risked from the start after six weeks out with a calf problem.
Benitez, whose side will fly straight from Newcastle Airport to Japan to compete in the Club World Cup after the game, added: "He's not ready yet to start, yet. He's been out too long and needs to come back little by little. He cannot start a game now.
"It's too simplistic to blame his absence for the poor results. Even without John Terry and Lampard, the team was winning.
"But they are important players with big character. Lampard can find players between the lines, get into the box, score goals. So he's a different kind of midfielder to those we have at the moment.
"The ones we have can do a bit of everything, working, but he adds something.
"He cannot be box to box like 10 years ago, but he'll be important in possession to understand the game and also, at set-pieces because he has good deliveries.
"That's key with the players we have up front, with good movement and ability. If you have someone to link with them, that'll be fine. He can play higher up the pitch because he can get into the box."
By Simon Bird
Martin O'Neill has admitted he was stunned when Chelsea sacked Roberto di Matteo - as he prepares to clash with old foe Rafa Benitez.
The Sunderland boss reckons Di Matteo won the "holy grail" for Chelsea and deserved a bit more faith.
Sunderland face Chelsea on a run of one home win in 10, with O'Neill confirming he will buy in January to reshape his struggling squad.
He will get time from owner Ellis Short to turn around a bad run which has dumped the Wearsiders in relegation trouble again.
Commenting on Chelsea's latest turmoil, he said: "You'd have to say it was a big surprise that Di Matteo went after everything he'd done for Chelsea in recent time - they're the FA Cup holders and won the Champions League.
"That was the holy grail for Chelsea and they won it. We were all pretty surprised - particularly with the start they had this season, it was really great.
"It was only the last couple of game of his tenure that they didn't get the results. Their performances early season, everybody was raving about them, so it came as a major surprise.
"Nothing too much surprises any of us about football, but I was genuinely taken aback by that (sacking).
"There has to be a crowd reaction to the thing. Di Matteo, having done what he did, was held in very high esteem by the Chelsea faithful.
"Maybe their reaction is something born out of that."
Sunderland, though, have their own worries, including a run of two wins in 22 in the league.
Lee Cattermole has been confirmed as out for two months with knee trouble and Steven Fletcher is a major doubt with ankle trouble.
O'Neill said: "We should draw some sort of inspiration from our second half display at Norwich, but only playing for a half isn't good enough for us. It won't be good enough against anybody, let alone Chelsea, we've got to put everything into the game.
"It's important for us to address our home form. It's not been good enough. Chelsea is a really tough game as is Reading.
"It's vital we have a number of goal-scorers and share the goals around because we are relying on one or two sources."
O'Neill had his rows with new Chelsea manager Benitez in the past over the transfer of Gareth Barry when he was Aston Villa and thre Spaniard at Liverpool.
Asked if the pair had settled their differences, O'Neill said: "I'm sure we have... I'm not sure whether we have or not... I'm sure we have...
"It's that long ago."
Prem predictions: Simon Bird gazes into his crystal ball ahead of Sunderland vs Chelsea and the rest of the weekend's top flight fixtures.
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