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Saturday's top of the table six-pointer may have ended up a top of the table zero-pointer, but that suits Chelsea just fine.
Sure, an eight-point lead would've been even better. Or a 14-point lead, as we enjoyed at this point in 2005-06. But, as Mourinho often likes to point out (when he's talking to the media, that is), times have changed. As the overall quality of the Premier League has crept up, such dominating leads are not likely to happen anymore. In fact, if we take a quick peek into recent seasons, we'll see that a 5-point lead with 15 games to go is not a bad sign at all of ultimate success.
Season | Top after 23 | Second | Lead | Champion |
2014-15 | Chelsea | Man City | 5 | ??? |
2013-14 | Man City | Chelsea | 1 | Man City |
2012-13 | Man Utd | Man City | 5 | Man Utd |
2011-12 | Man City | Man Utd | GD | Man City |
2010-11 | Man Utd | Arsenal | 5 | Man Utd |
2009-10 | Chelsea | Man Utd | 4 | Chelsea |
2008-09 | Man Utd | Chelsea | 5 | Man Utd |
2007-08 | Man Utd | Arsenal | GD | Man Utd |
2006-07 | Man Utd | Chelsea | 6 | Man Utd |
As we saw last year or in 2011-12, this table is hardly a comprehensive representation of the twists and turns in any title race, yet amid all the drama, like last minute Agüero goals and 3-goals-in-11-minutes comebacks, the trend holds true. City may have already closed an 8-point gap earlier this season, but the advantage and control lies with us. It's up to us to not mess this up.