MANCHESTER, England, Dec 15 (AFP) - English Premiership trailblazers Chelsea could lose their nerve claimed Manchester United's England international fullback Gary Neville on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old praised Chelsea for the way they were playing but suggested that should they be involved in a tight fight come the climax of the season then they could lose their nerve as they chase only their second league title having won their first one in 1955.
"If they keep playing as they are for the rest of the season you'd have to hold your hands up but whether they do that remains to be seen," said Neville.
"If they're being hunted by clubs like us, how will they do in April and May?"
Neville discounted the fact that the 1-1 draw with Fulham on Monday which left them nine points behind Chelsea was too big a gap to make up.
"Three or four weeks ago we were eight to 10 points behind Arsenal and we could have gone two points behind them the other night," he said.
"We are strong enough to catch Chelsea and we are playing well enough."
12/15/2004 18:02 GMT - AFP