Cole: One distraction and our title bid is dead

Ashley Cole today told his Chelsea team-mates to forget about Manchester United and concentrate on beating Bolton on Sunday - or live to regret it.

Chelsea need to get a better result against Gary Megson's side than Manchester United manage at Wigan if they are to pip them to the title but Cole is concerned that events at the JJB Stadium could distract his side from their task at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "We have to have positive thoughts and make sure we win our game because it will be very disappointing if United did draw and we drew or lost.

"We have to be strong mentally because it would be a killer if we drop points and they only drew, it would hurt us more.

"Anything can happen in football. Wigan got a draw at our place, but first we have to win our game because it won't be worth anything if we don't.

"Bolton will be coming to us wanting to win the game even though they're safe. I know some of their players and they will definitely want to get a result against us.

"We know how they play and it will be tough against Kevin Davies and El Hadji Diouf.

"If we win it's still not in our hands, but at least then it will then be down to what United do."

If both sides get the same result then Manchester United will only win the Premier League on goal difference, butCole says they will be worthy champions. "If Manchester United do win, we will hold our hands up and say they won it fair and square," he told Chelsea TV.

Assistant manager Henk Ten Cate is already preparing for Chelsea to finish as runners-up in the Premier League, but feels it will give them added motivation to beat Manchester United in the Champions League Final in two weeks time.

The Dutchman said: "We are still in it even though I don't think we can win it, but Manchester United can lose it. We don't have it in our own hands.

"If we don't then it will increase our determination to win the Champions League. The Final is massive, but we are ready to win both things.

"I don't know if we can speak of being more deserving in the league, but we have struggled a lot with injuries. I think we battled, kept faith and our confidence.

"Sunday is very important for us and we are up against a big opponent. Bolton aren't easy to beat and they deserve our respect."