(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Champions Chelsea face a stiff challenge to defend their Premier League title from in-form leaders Manchester City but will fight till the end in the race, midfielder Willian has said.
City have won 10 of their opening 11 league games and sit at the top of the table, nine points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea.
"It's difficult," Willian told BBC's Football Focus. "Manchester City are playing very well but I think we can fight for the title until the end."
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are second and third respectively, a point ahead of Antonio Conte's men.
"It is difficult to play when you were champion last season and to fight for the title again as every team wants to win against Chelsea," added the Brazil international. Chelsea travel to West Bromwich Albion, who are 16th in the league, on Saturday.
Chelsea can put an indifferent start to their Premier League title defence further behind them by extending a winning streak at troubled West Bromwich Albion.
The champions have won their last four domestic fixtures and can move from fourth to second should Manchester United and Tottenham, the clubs directly above them fail to win their fixtures.
Conte saw his side comprehensively beaten in the Champions League by Roma at the end of last month but the 1-0 Premier League defeat of Manchester United that followed was an indication no permanent damage had been sustained in Italy.
Certainly wing-back Victor Moses thought so.
"As a team, whatever happens, we stick together and do the best we can," said Moses.
"People have been a bit too harsh but we don't need to think about that or concentrate on what people have been saying.
"These criticisms are the kinds of things that makes a player stronger.
"We know we just need to believe in ourselves and prove them wrong then win as many games as we can. We are 100 per cent together. We are like brothers here."
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