As we approach the season's end, Players' Player of the Year Ricardo Carvalho admits he cannot recall a closer run-in, and insists now we must simply do our job.

Carvalho, a veteran of four consecutive title victories, with Porto in 2003 and 2004, and Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, is experiencing the closest finish to a season of his career, and still hopes to repeat the feat he achieved in 2004 - Champions League victory.

Looking back on his past few years, Carvalho was unable to pick out any close races, with only last season's pursuit of Manchester United springing to mind.

'No I have never known a league race go so close. At Porto when I won we did it many points ahead of the next team, it was never like this season,' he said, adding: 'And when I moved to Chelsea in 2005 and 2006 it was the same.

The statistics back the defender's memory too, as the Portuguese side stormed to the Super Liga title by 11 points five years ago, with an eight-point gap a year later.

Upon signing for the Blues in the summer of 2004, Carvalho's first season yielded another league success, with a 12-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal, while our 2005/6 championship was won by eight points from United.

This season offers the 29-year-old his first experience of a tight title race, and he is all too aware that the destination of this year's Premier League trophy is out of our hands.

'Man United, it depends on them, and if they win,' he sighed. 'We are second with the same points, we have to be strong, like we have all season.

'It is difficult to last like that but there are always things like that in football.'

If he plays on Sunday, the omens are good that we will at least force Sir Alex Ferguson's men to take all three points at Wigan.

Carvalho is undefeated in the Premier League since November 2006, a run that has taken in 42 appearances for the popular centre-half. With one more unbeaten game on Sunday, he might just make it five league titles out of six.

You can purchase Ricardo Carvalho's new 2008/9 home shirt from the Online Megastore now, while membership opportunities for next season are available here.