Carlo Ancelotti Confident Chelsea Will Overtake Manchester United

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is confident that his side can overtake Manchester United at the top of the table having seen first-hand how a comfortable advantage can be thrown away.

The Italian tactician was in charge of Juventus in 2000 when they were overtaken by Lazio despite having held a nine-point advantage with eight games to go.

Chelsea, who had trailed United by 15 points at one stage, have now closed the gap to just six points and, as Chelsea have yet to visit Old Trafford in the league, Ancelotti hopes United will wilt under the pressure.

The former AC Milan boss said : “I lost a title nine points up with eight games to go,”.

“It can happen. It’s not a nice feeling. It was very difficult to think two months ago that we could stay with the lead so for this reason, at this moment, we are happy.”

However there are a lot more games to play with Chelsea hosting Tottenham in Saturday’s late kick-off, and United then head to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Ancelotti said : “If we are able to win against Tottenham, I think we can put more pressure on Manchester United in the game against Arsenal,”.

Should Chelsea win all their remaining games and United suffer two defeats, the title could be decided on goal difference and, with the Blues currently on 37 and United on 39, Ancelotti is eager to ensure his side take their chances.

“It can happen,” he said when asked about the prospect of the teams finishing level on points. “It was important for us to score three goals [against West Ham].”

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Ancelotti Wants Fernando Torres To Score Against Birmingham City

Carlo Ancelotti insists has declared that he is not fazed by the current form trough of £50million striker Fernando Torres.

The Spanish international striker has failed to score since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Liverpool at the end of January and his plight has been well-documented.

However the Chelsea manager says that the form of one player is not his focus ahead of tomorrow night’s home clash with Birmingham City.

The former AC Milan boss told Sky Sports News : “I’m not worried about this,”.

“I hope tomorrow (he will score) but my thoughts right now are to put out the best team, to play good football and to win the game.

“He played nine minutes (against West Brom) and he showed character, I liked it. He scored but it was offside.

“He will score. He can score if he plays (against Birmingham). But it doesn’t matter if Fernando or another scores.”

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Real Madrid Target Carlo Ancelotti To Replace Jose Mourinho

Sensational news are out and it has been revealed that Real Madrid have Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on their shortlist to replace Jose Mourinho in the summer.

The Daily Mail has reported that the Italian tactican is on a shortlist of candidates to take over at Real Madrid when Mourinho’s controversial reign comes to an end.

It is believed that Real Madrid chiefs have become increasingly concerned at Mourinho’s admission that he has ‘unfinished business’ in England, and his strained relationship with the Spanish media.

Real have made Chelsea boss Ancelotti one of the leading contenders to fill the possible vacancy and have even put feelers out to gauge his readiness to take on one of the biggest challenges in the game.

Ancelotti seems certain to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, after being left in little doubt he will have to pay with his job for falling behind in the Barclays Premier League title race and missing out on the Champions League title.

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Ancelotti would have no complaints if Chelsea fired him

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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti concedes he would have 'no problem' if the club decided to fire him at the end of the season.



The Italian's position at Stamford Bridge has been a talking point for a number of weeks, and Wednesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United has merely served to intensify the speculation about his future.



But despite the scrutiny, Ancelotti insists he is remaining calm over his future.



"I don't know what my future is," he said. "At the end of the season, I think the club can decide if they want me to continue or if they want to change.



"If they are not happy, they can change without problem.



"If, at the end of the season, the owner decides my job was not good enough, this is not a problem.



"I will try to do my best, because I want to stay here. If there is a possibility to do that, I will be happy."



Chelsea have only finished a season without a trophy twice under Abramovich's reign, with the Russian tycoon sacking the manager on both occasions.



Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea in his first campaign at the helm, but the Italian admits that achievement has already forgotten.



"Last year is the past," he said. "Everyone was happy to win the double last year but this is the past.



"Obviously, this season was not a good season for us but now we have seven games."



He added: "To speak now about which kind of change the club wants to do for next season about a new transfer or my future is not the right time.



"Every one of us has to try to do the best for the left seven games.



"After that, in the summer, we can speak about this. But to speak now is not the right time."



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AS Roma Target Chelsea Boss Carlo Ancelotti

Interesting news are out and it has been revealed that AS Roma’s new board are drawing up a package for Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The under fire Italian tactician still has a year left on his contract and there is no indication of his dismissal from Chelsea, despite their Champions League exit.

Corriere dello Sport has reported that new Roma owner Thomas Di Benedetto and his fellow directors have decided Ancelotti is the man they want to lead them into next season.

Roma are willing to offer Ancelotti a contract worth €3 million-a-year and also Chelsea €6 million compensation for releasing the Italian a year early from his deal.

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Ancelotti under pressure at Chelsea

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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti's future is under the spotlight following the club's Champions League exit.



Ancelotti, who led the club to a the domestic Double during his first season at Stamford Bridge, has been unable to emulate that success this term.



Tuesday night's defeat by Manchester United at the quarter-final stage in Europe ended their only realistic remaining hope of silverware this season and there has been growing speculation that he will be fired in the summer.



In the wake of the Champions League exit, Chelsea would not be drawn on the future of Ancelotti.



A club spokesman said: "It's business as usual.



"The most important thing is to win all the games we can in the league and qualify for the Champions League."



Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay confirmed recently that the former Milan manager's position would be reviewed at the end of the season.



Turkey boss Guus Hiddink is one of a number of possible candidates should Ancelotti be shown the door and has a strong link with Abramovich after leading Chelsea to FA Cup success in 2009 during his brief spell at the helm.



But the Dutchman will not break his contract with the Turkish Football Federation, with a place in November's Euro 2012 play-offs in his sights.



"Guus will respect his contract with Turkey," his agent Cees Van Nieuwenhuizen told the Daily Telegraph.



"And because the results are going the way they are it looks like Turkey will qualify for the play-offs if they draw with Belgium on June 3 and with Austria in September.



"If they do not qualify for the play-offs he has already said that he will go. But from a technical point of view it is not possible for him to join Chelsea right now.



"It has nothing to do with his relationship with Roman Abramovich, which is good, but Guus has never broken a contract and Roman understands the position."




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Picking Torres a mistake, admits Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti admitted he might have made a mistake by playing Fernando Torres i Chelsea's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Manchester United.



The loss meant that United went through to the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate and left Chelsea once again falling short in Europe's elite competition.



Ancelotti started with Torres and left Didier Drogba on the bench, even though Torres had not scored in 817 minutes and 13 matches for club and country.



Torres suffered a dismal first 45 minutes and was replaced at half-time by Drogba, who scored in the second half.



When asked if it had been a mistake to start with Torres, Ancelotti said: "Maybe. Could be. I told you a lot of times this season I wanted to start with Fernando for this kind of game, these type of tactics.



"I wanted to put more pressure up front because we needed to score. Didier was fresh and he could use his power up front. This was the reason I took out Fernando."



"Didier played well in the second half. I wanted to put more pressure up front because we needed to score. Didier was fresh and he could use his power up front. This was the reason I took out Fernando."



Ancelotti will now be under pressure to ensure Chelsea qualify for the Champions League next season.



He said: "We have to look forward. We have games to play and to win if possible because obviously we want to play the Champions League the next season."



On his own position Ancelotti said: "I'm not concerned. I have to work and try to do my best. It is not my decision to stay or not to stay here."



United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, however, believes that it was the huge £50million fee paid for Torres in January which persuaded Ancelotti to start with the Spaniard.



Ferguson said: "A lot of people thought Drogba would play. I thought having signed Torres for the money they did they had to play him. I wasn't 100% sure but I couldn't see how they could leave Torres out."



Ferguson, however, insisted he was not criticising Chelsea for signing Torres.



"They had the opportunity to sign Torres and I don't think anyone would have turned it down," Ferguson said. "Everyone said at the time it was fantastic business.



"You can't criticise him (Ancelotti) for that, it was a good signing. It isn't working at the moment but he is a young man and there are other seasons ahead."





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Ancelotti questions referee's courage

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has questioned the courage of the referee after Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat by Manchester United.



Ancelotti said it was "clear" Patrice Evra fouled Ramires late in the game but Alberto Undiano Mallenco waved play on.



"It's not easy to give the penalty in the last minute," the Blues boss said.



"You need to have personality, courage and character. Not always do referees have these kind of skills."



Ramires was through on goal when Evra wrapped his legs around the midfielder and brought him down inside the box.



The Spanish referee was confronted by Ancelotti and several Chelsea players after the final whistle.



"It was clear. For everyone. Everyone knows it was clear," Italian Ancelotti added.



"I'm disappointed but this is the result. Not just the referee, but the assistant was in the right position to decide that was a penalty.



"I said to the referee [after the game] that it was a penalty and he needed to whistle. He said nothing. No answer.



"The players are aggrieved. But we have to forget it and be focused for the next game. We have to try our best there."



United boss Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that if his side were fortunate with that incident, it was no more than they deserved.



"Yeah, someone said it could have been a penalty. It was the first penalty decision we've had in seven years, so we're due one," the Scot said.



"But I don't feel guilty about that at all. It was a 50-50 from where I was and I don't know what the contact situation was."



Chelsea captain John Terry appeared to feel even more strongly about the decision, but was restrained due to the fear of reprisal from UEFA.



"I think the most frustrating thing for the players is that we can't come out here and be honest about it. We would face possible bans," Terry stated.



"We're seeing players receiving bans left, right and centre for speaking honestly after games.



"You guys [the media] lose out, the players can't be honest and we end up walking on eggshells.



"Unfortunately, I can't say more about it but it was a clear penalty."












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Ancelotti keen to sign new Chelsea deal

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful of signing a new contract with the Premier League champions.



Ancelotti guided the Blues to a league and cup double in his first season in England last year, but a failure to successfully defend both this time around has led to speculation about his future with the club.



However, the Italian told the Daily Express: ''I want to stay at Chelsea. I would like to extend my contract because I love these players and this club. Obviously it is just not my decision, but I don`t think they require me to win a trophy to retain my position.''



Chelsea take on Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night, looking to take a step towards the only trophy to have eluded them since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.



Ancelotti added: ''The Champions League is a dream for this club but it cannot be an obsession. It is a motivation. Chelsea deserve to win it. They lost the final on penalties, lost a semi-final in the last minute, they went out with a goal that was no goal at Liverpool.



''I have told my players that we have 450 minutes of football now to win the Champions League. I believe we can do that.''



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Ferguson defends Ancelotti

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, from recent criticism.



Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League between the two sides, Ferguson said he thought criticism of the Italian was unfair.



"I cannot understand how you can criticise Ancelotti, who won the Double in his first season at Chelsea," Ferguson told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's the fault of the current media atmosphere.



"They invent problems where there are none. I am certain Carlo reacts like me. He ignores the media so that your decisions, your philosophy and your mental health are not affected by it. How can Chelsea think of changing a coach like him?"



Ferguson also defended Chelsea striker Fernando Torres who has come in for criticism for his failure to score since his £50 million move from Liverpool in January.



"Of course he will start scoring," the United boss said. "I just hope he waits a little bit, at least until after the tie against us.



"When Chelsea signed him, everyone said what a great signing he was, and rightly so. Now everyone says that it was a mistake. Can people be more ridiculous? Of course he needs time to adapt."



Ferguson also said that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho would have to wait to replace him at Old Trafford as he has no intention of retiring imminently.



"Jose is a great friend of mine," Ferguson said. "We have spoken many times about his future and I understand his wish to return to England because here a coach has more freedom than in Spain, without the constant following of the media and radio.



"But it's difficult for me to say when my position will be available. It will be my health that decides. I will continue until I no longer feel the energy that has always accompanied me.



"My father, who worked in the shipyards, retired at the age of 65 and one year later he was dead. The worst you can do is to say I have worked for 45 years and now I have a right to rest. You need to always remain active and in good form.




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Ancelotti open to Milan return

Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out managing Internazionale, but the Chelsea boss has admitted he would not turn down the chance to return to Milan.



Ancelotti had a glorious career as a player and manager with Milan - guiding the Rossoneri to Champions League success in 2003 and 2007.



He joined Chelsea in 2009 and led them to Premier League and FA Cup success last term, but this season, after a dip in form, has been linked with a return to Italy.



"Would I go to Inter in place of Leonardo? No," Ancelotti told Il Giorno. "I've spent 13 years at Milan, for me it is impossible to ignore the past.



"Moratti [Inter president, Massimo] has been thinking about me? I thank him for the kind words but I'm an AC Milan man. In the event that Moratti calls me in the future, I'll politely decline the invitation."



The Italian insists he is focused on his role with Chelsea, but admits that Milan hold a place in his heart.



"I am not thinking about returning to AC Milan," he said. "I'm at Chelsea. But if one day [club chief Silvio] Berlusconi or someone from AC Milan calls, I would not think for a moment to say yes, because certain relationships and certain victories will never be forgotten."






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Chelsea can still win title - Ancelotti

Manager Carlo Ancelotti says Chelsea can retain the Premier League title, but he believes his side will have to win their remaining 9 games to do so.



Late goals by David Luiz and Ramires inflicted a 2-0 win over Manchester City to take Chelsea into third spot.



And despite trailing leaders Manchester United by nine points, Ancelotti said: "We have to try to win every game.



"There'll be an international break and when the players come back, I'd like to see the same spirit and attitude."



"It was a very good result and performance," Ancelotti told BBC Sport after the win over City. "We are showing good spirit and good football and all the players are fit.



"It was important to put pressure up front and not concede. We could have done better in the final third in the first half but after the break we did better and we put the pressure on.



"Luiz and Ramires - fantastic performances and fantastic goals. Ramires, in particular. He's improving very well.



"Luiz's goal was a surprise. Defensively, he worked with fantastic tempo for a long time and his performance was really good."



The Italian boss also defended his £50m signing striker Fernando Torres, who looked short of confidence as the Spaniard continued his goalscoring drought before being substituted with 20 minutes remaining.



"He doesn't have to lose his confidence," commented Ancelotti. "We have to be patient and so does he. The goal will arrive."



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