That’s the verdict of former Fulham and West Ham defender Tony Gale in the wake of the latest round of Premier League fixtures.

Chelsea kept up the pressure on United and City with a comfortable 4-0 win away at Stoke on Saturday afternoon.

And that victory leaves them three points behind the joint table-toppers, who beat Southampton 1-0 and Crystal Palace 5-0 respectively.

Gale, who won the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1995, has now offered his take on how Chelsea are shaping up compared to the Manchester clubs.

Asked on Sky Sports News how far the Blues are behind United and City, Gale said: "Not far. I mean I think they’re the best of the rest, most certainly.

"Just the shape and the pattern of the team and the way they just sit in there and play that the Italian style, that they just hurt you and hit you on the break.

"I just feel with Champions League football, which they didn’t have last season, when they were fresh for every game in the Premier League, that it may impact them. I think they’ll go a long way in the Champions League as well because they’ve got that style of play that really gets you results, the same as when I was talking about Manchester United. Just sitting there and hitting teams on the break."

Gale reckons injuries to key players could alter where Chelsea, United and City end the season.

Asked where Chelsea will finish, Gale added: "Third place at the moment, but you never know with injuries.

"We talk about [Paul] Pogba getting injured. If Chelsea had a key injury, or Man City, then it all changes around."

Chelsea are back in Champions League action against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

They can go level on points with United and City when Pep Guardiola’s side visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.