Be careful Chelsea - It's a bigger derby for QPR than you, says Joey Barton

Be careful Chelsea - It's a bigger derby for QPR than you, says Joey Barton

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Huge: Barton admits the clash is bigger for Rangers than it is for Blues


Simon Johnson

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Published: 09 April 2015
Updated: 10:40, 09 April 2015
Joey Barton has warned Chelsea that QPR are ready to punish them if they take their west London neighbours lightly on Sunday.
The two clubs are separated by just four miles, but the hostility is very much one-way from QPR's direction toward their more successful neighbours.
Both sides need the points as Chelsea close in on their first title for five years, while QPR are struggling to avoid relegation.
Chelsea's following two matches are against their closest title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal.
Barton believes Jose Mourinho's side are more concerned with getting the better of those clubs and could make the mistake of taking QPR too lightly.
He told Standard Sport: "It is probably more of a derby for us than them, they have bigger fish to fry.
"They have the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal on their minds because that's the kind of company they keep. But for us it's huge because of the predicament we're in.

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"They are champions elect, but we saw what can happen with Crystal Palace the other night against Manchester City.
"Chelsea have a healthy lead at the top of the table. If they fancy giving us three points we'll gladly take them."

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Barton was part of the side that punished Chelsea's complacency at Loftus Road back in 2011, when they secured a shock 1-0 victory.
He added: "That was four years ago so not many of the players here now were involved. It's going to be difficult but it's just the next game.
"Everyone expects us to get turned over so it's quite nice, the pressure is off us. Chelsea are a fantastic side, but they should be when you're spending 15 gazillion pounds in the transfer window.
"They will win the League this year, I can't see anyone catching them now with the Mourinho factor.
"Their season will just about be considered a success because they will win the League but their biggest disappointment is they got eliminated from the Champions League so easily."
Meanwhile, the Rangers captain insists winger Matt Phillips' deserves a recall to the Scotland team.
Phillips has thrived since being given a chance to impress by new manager Chris Ramsey. He now has seven assists for the calendar year, which puts him just one behind the best tally among Europe's five top leagues, Lionel Messi.
The 24-year-old has been unable to add to his two Scotland caps earned in 2012 and 2013 because he barely played under previous manager Harry Redknapp following a £4m move from Blackpool two years ago.
But Barton said: "Matt has been playing as well as anyone in the League and he has for the last month. If he keeps playing well it'll be a matter of time before he gets in the Scottish side.
"He didn't play that much at the start and every player needs to play to showcase what they're about. Matt's a fantastic talent. If he keeps doing that he can't do anymore.
"It'd be a big boost for him to be called up for Scotland again but, to be honest from a selfish point of view, I don't care what he does for them.
"I'm happy he stays with us and stays fit and I can do without him going away on international duty so hopefully Gordon (Strachan) avoids him for a bit longer. Maybe next season if we're safe he can call him up."

 

Building up the game hardly keeps them distracted.

 

Let's hope the scum players read it and think, we'll make Barton eat his words and they approach the game with a "we're too good for you" attitude. This will give the Superhoops every chance of nicking the victory.

It'd be only topped by Terry scoring in his own net, swearing at some poor scum fan and abusing their race and then getting a lifetime ban from the FA.

 

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we should train like Barca