Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has talked up the importance of Sunday's Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
While the Blues currently hold an eight-point advantage over the visitors to Stamford Bridge, Spurs possess four games in hand.
That throws up the possibility of Spurs becoming favourites for third place with victory at the weekend, and Tuchel has admitted that his team cannot afford any complacency against 'a direct rival'.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: "It is a big game. We can do our mathematics. It is strange to look at the fixture and see teams competing for the same area of the table and having played four games less.
"This can lead you to a wrong impression and let you believe you are comfortably ahead which you are not. So we have to make sure that it stays like this. The best chance is to win when it direct competition against direct opponents.
"It's a London derby. It's a big rivalry. We are playing them for the third time in a very short period. We managed to beat them twice, and we will do everything that we can to beat them a third time."
Chelsea recently edged out Spurs in the EFL Cup semi-finals, prevailing by a 3-0 aggregate scoreline over the two legs.
Darren Plant
