Toby Alderweireld says tomorrow’s game against Chelsea will be difficult, but warns the Barclays Premier League leaders that confidence in the Saints camp is sky-high.
The Belgian defender scored his first goal for Southampton in the Boxing Day victory at Crystal Palace as the side recorded back-to-back wins, following up last weekend’s success against Everton.
The five-game losing run that preceded those successive wins now seems a distant memory, with Alderweireld saying that spirits are soaring ahead of tomorrow’s match.
“We had a couple of difficult weeks so it was important to start winning again,” he told Southampton’s official YouTube channel .
“Against Everton at home and now Crystal Palace away we have six [points] out of six, so that gives us confidence for Sunday.
“But it’s going to be very difficult,” continued Alderweireld.
“I think they (Chelsea) are the best team in the league and they are confident after winning on Friday, but we’re going to do everything we can.
“We are confident in ourselves, so hopefully we can get some points.”
Alderweireld has the inside track on some of Chelsea’s attacking talent, having played alongside Diego Costa at Atlético Madrid last season and with Eden Hazard for the Belgian national team.
And the Saints man says he is fully aware of just how good those players can be: “It’s difficult to defend against them because they have everything,” said Alderweireld.
“Diego is strong, fast, technical and he can score a goal, and I think Eden is in the form of his life. We have to be very good and very compact to beat them.
“They have some of the best players in the world. It’s going to be very tough for us, so we’re going to have to be on our top game to beat them.
“In the games against Arsenal and Manchester United, we didn’t get that little bit of luck you sometimes need. Hopefully this Sunday that will be on our side.”
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