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Monday, 11 April 2011

Ancelotti: Blues need to believe

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said belief is the key to overcome Manchester United and progress to the Champions League semi-finals.

Ancelotti’s team must overcome a 1-0 deficit – an away goal at that – on Tuesday after losing at Stamford Bridge last week.

The Italian tactician says his players must believe in themselves to have any chance of getting through to the next phase, where they would be likely to face Schalke for a spot in the coveted European final.

“Now I have two days so I am going home and I will watch the first game one, two or three times,” Ancelotti said.

“I have to prepare something we can do to create difficulties. I want to try to do something special for the next game.”

“To win there (at Old Trafford) you have to do 100 percent in everything. You have to use personality, courage and you have to control the game.”

“To do that, the players truly have to believe that we can win there.”

Chelsea won 2-1 on their last visit to Old Trafford early last year, but Ancelotti said breaking down the United defence would be a difficult task for his team.

“Obviously, they (United) have the advantage and will try to use counter attack (and) to defend well,” Ancelotti said.

“They are a fantastic defence doing a fantastic job so it will not be easy to score but we have 90 minutes to try to do it.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Yossi Benayoun insists Chelsea will go on to win the trophy if they can overcome United.

The 30-year-old, who has only made five appearances for the club due to an Achilles injury, said the Champions League was the goal with a top-four finish in the English Premier League almost assured.

“I’m sure if we beat United we’ll go to the end and win the trophy,” Benayoun said.

“They are a big team with a great manager but we have belief we can do it, despite losing at home.”

“We have to give everything and try our best.”

Mon 11 April, 2011

Thursday, 7 April 2011

Ancelotti: Ramires foul ´a clear penalty´

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant Chelsea were denied a late penalty in their 1-0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Manchester United.

Blues midfielder Ramires appeared to have been brought down by United’s Patrice Evra in the first leg’s dying stages, but the referee’s whistled stayed silent despite Chelsea’s appeals for a spot kick.

The penalty could have put Chelsea level, after Wayne Rooney’s goal handed United a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.

“One. It was clear,” the Ancelotti said. “It was the foul on Ramires.”

“That one was a clear penalty.”

Blues custodian Petr Cech was also insistent there was a case of oversight on the match official’s part.

“I think everybody saw what happened. You can see it clearly on the telly, but the most important person didn’t see it, that’s the main thing,” he told ITV.

Despite conceding an away goal, Ancelotti said he was satisfied with his side’s showing on Wednesday.

“The performance was not bad. We had some moments where we weren’t able to have good control of the game with possession, in the middle of the first half, but in general the performance was good,” he said, with the second leg to played at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

“We had chances but it was difficult when we went 1-0 down to come back into the game.”

“They used the counter-attack very well, but we had some chances.”

“We hit the post and should have had a penalty and (Edwin) Van der Sar made a fantastic save from (Fernando) Torres.”

“We are disappointed but fortunately we still have 90 minutes at Old Trafford. It will not be easy, but last season at the same moment we needed to win there and we won the title.”

Thu 7 April, 2011

Ancelotti: Ramires foul ´a clear penalty´

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant Chelsea were denied a late penalty in their 1-0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Manchester United.

The penalty could have put Chelsea level, after Wayne Rooney’s goal handed United a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.

“One. It was clear,” the Ancelotti said. “It was the foul on Ramires.”

“That one was a clear penalty.”

Blues custodian Petr Cech was also insistent there was a case of oversight on the match official’s part.

“I think everybody saw what happened. You can see it clearly on the telly, but the most important person didn’t see it, that’s the main thing,” he told ITV.

Despite conceding an away goal, Ancelotti said he was satisfied with his side’s showing on Wednesday.

“We had chances but it was difficult when we went 1-0 down to come back into the game.”

“They used the counter-attack very well, but we had some chances.”

“We hit the post and should have had a penalty and (Edwin) Van der Sar made a fantastic save from (Fernando) Torres.”

“We are disappointed but fortunately we still have 90 minutes at Old Trafford. It will not be easy, but last season at the same moment we needed to win there and we won the title.”

Thu 7 April, 2011

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Carlo Ancelotti: Fernando Torres Will Score For Chelsea

6 comments by Jack Atchinson on March 8th, 2011

Stamford Bridge boss believes record transfer’s goal drought is not a problem.

Premier League Tickets Available from Tixdaq.com

Friday, 4 March 2011

Ancelotti: Luiz has a lot to learn

Carlo Ancelotti has warned new defender David Luiz he needs to calm down as he battles to overcome injury and face Blackpool on Monday.

The defender became a Chelsea hero when he scored against Manchester United in Tuesday’s 2-1 Premier League victory – and somehow managed to avoid getting sent off after giving the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez a real battering.

Referee Martin Atkinson’s decision not to hand the centre-back a second yellow card infuriated United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who now faces disciplinary action for his post-match outburst.

And Ancelotti has warned the 23-million-pound signing, who also picked up a hamstring injury after racing around against United, he needs to take things a bit easier in future.

“He has to know English football. He has to be more calm on the pitch. Obviously he’s showed fantastic ability and quality. He has to improve, but he will because he’ll have more experience and knowledge about English football. He can change his behaviour on the pitch,” Ancelotti said.

“He’s showing fantastic ability offensively, obviously. He’s able to pass the ball and move in front without problems. He’s able to shoot at goal. But defensively, he can improve.”

The Chelsea manager is hopeful his new signing will recover in time to face Blackpool on Monday but he may need a late fitness test.

“Until now, he’s not been able to train. I hope he will train tomorrow,” Ancelotti said of Luiz.

“Mikel, too, had a knee problem in the warm-up before the game against United. He had a scan yesterday, but everything was ok. I hope, also, that he can train tomorrow. The other players are fine.”

Chelsea go into the match at Blackpool as huge favourites, not least because of the huge difference in financial muscle between the two clubs – after all the 50 million pounds Chelsea paid for Fernando Torres would probably be enough to buy Blackpool lock, stock and barrel.

“I know, I know – but it doesn’t mean anything. Obviously, when you have the money you can have important players, top players. But the difference in football is teamwork. If you are able to reach teamwork levels with fantastic players, you can win the most important titles in the world. The most important thing is to have that teamwork,” he said.

Chelsea must decide whether to recall Didier Drogba after he was left on the bench two games in a row.

But Ancelotti is expected to stick with Torres even though the former Liverpool man is still waiting for his first goal in a blue shirt.

“Everyone here isn’t afraid or worried because he hasn’t scored. Everyone is looking at his performances. He played a very good game – he didn’t score, obviously, and it’s important for the strikers to score,” he said.

“But not for us. I’m asking him to have good movement for the team and to have combinations with the other strikers. He’s doing very well.”

Fri 4 March, 2011