Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted his side will finish in the English Premier League’s top four and clinch a Champions League spot.
The reigning Premier League champions have slumped to fifth place in the league table, but Ancelotti is confident they can re-launch their title bid at Wolves on Wednesday.
“It is important to end up in a Champions League position, but we have the skills and ability to stay in the top four without a problem. I’m not worried at all,” he said.
After just one win in their last eight league games, Ancelotti’s men are now six points adrift of leaders Manchester United.
But the Chelsea manager is adamant his side still has enough time left to retain the title, and is eyeing the trip to Molineux as a good opportunity to turn the Blues’ fortunes around.
“I think we have enough time to come back and fight for the title. It’s not easy closing the gap, but we will try. We are improving and the team is close to moving on. We have to keep going but I have confidence that the team will improve,” he said.
“We will win.”
Ancelotti has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, and is tight-lipped on buying any new players in the January transfer market.
The Italian also brushed aside speculation linking the club with a move for David Beckham.
He said: “I think that he is a fantastic professional player but we are not interested. We already have good players in this position.”
The Blues have only scored nine goals in their last nine league games, but Ancelotti is hopeful his strikers will return to form at the right time, starting at Molineux.
“Didier (Drogba) has started to score, Malouda scored against Bolton and I think their bad moment is behind them. I am also hopeful that Anelka will start to score,” he said.
The Chelsea manager also rubbished reports linking striker Daniel Sturridge with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge
Ancelotti said: “He has not asked me to go on loan. If he did ask me, I would say ‘no way’.”
Tue 4 January, 2011
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