Malouda inspired by must win run-in

Chelsea's weekend match winner Florent Malouda believes the pressure filled run-in helped his side towards edging out Wigan Athletic.

The French winger's winner mid-way through the second half against the division's bottom club helped The Blues stay in charge in the race for Champions League qualification, and keep alive their hopes of securing back-to-back Barclays Premier League titles.

Such is the precarious nature of their league position, where they lie five points ahead of fifth place Tottenham Hotspur, and 11 points behind leaders Manchester United, Carlo Ancelotti's side could do without another slip up.

On the pressure upon the team Malouda said: "We were really disappointed with our first half against Wigan and the manager was really upset at half-time."

 

"'So we had to react because we have no choice but to win every game until the end of the season and it was a different Chelsea in the second half. We pushed and tried to score and we scored from the corner and we were very happy with the result, if not with the performance."

"We just have to keep winning and hope. Now Man United are a bit far ahead in the league and the way they lead, they are very efficient."

Before facing United next month, Malouda's side take on the 18-time league champions in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit after Wayne Rooney's winner at Stamford Bridge last week.