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Chelsea Comment: Insight Gained From Carlo Ancelotti Interview

The Chelsea boss still respects Manchester United, but sticks the boot in to Liverpool.

Nov 19, 2009 7:09:51 AM

EPL: Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea v Hull City (PA)

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EPL: Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea v Hull City (PA)

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For Chelsea fans looking to gain a greater insight into the mind and workings of Carlo Ancelotti, this week they received some answers.

The 50-year-old, speaking to Italian newspaper Il Giornale, gave a revealing interview about his perception of how this season is going.

Perhaps it was because he was speaking in his native tongue, or perhaps it was his greater comfort with a familiar Italian journalist, but the former AC Milan boss spoke candidly about his successes, and the surprising problems of some of his rivals.

“I'm quite happy here in London, I have a three-year contract, I like everything here, the club, the fans, English football,” Ancelotti said, as translated in the Daily Mail.

“Not to speak of the results, so far they are not that bad: I've won 10 out of 12 in the league, three out of four in the Champions League, it's an awesome progression. I do not have the slightest problem, not even with the food.”

When asked about gaining an upper hand in his developing rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson, Ancelotti admitted: “I've won a few against him, recently it was 1-0, but from a footballing point of view this was not much of a game.”

But that doesn’t mean Ancelotti thinks Manchester United are a spent force, unlike another of Chelsea’s supposed rivals.

“The numbers do not confirm this. United were two points behind Chelsea before our face-to-face; they have done well in the Champions League,” said Ancelotti, twice a winner of the competition as a manager.

“The only real disappointment [of the season] is Liverpool.”

With Guus Hiddink likely to be looking for employment after Russia’s surprising World Cup elimination against Slovenia on Wednesday night, Ancelotti perhaps unwittingly put extra pressure on himself by admitting that he has just continued with many of the systems the Dutchman introduced in his time at the club.

“I haven't changed anything in their habits, on purpose. I've gone for the very same fitness routine introduced by Guus Hiddink, without the slightest change,” the former Juventus boss said.

One up | But Ancelotti still is wary of United's threat

“It's a routine that has drastically reduced the number of injuries over the last season. I've only increased the tactical training sessions, something the English are usually allergic to.”

But his improved command of English has allowed him to make himself understood by his players, often in no uncertain terms.

When a half-time dressing down is need, the Italian is now able to deliver.

“In the latest instance [of needing to reprimand his players] I tried to do it in English, and I passed the test," he said. "They got the message instantly, you couldn't hear a fly flying.”

And with what he describes as an “excellent” relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich, Ancelotti feels increasingly secure in his position in London.

“He's a real football enthusiast. He keeps a close eye on the situation, sees a lot of matches on TV, knows the players and also comes to our training sessions,” Ancelotti said.

Much has been made about Chelsea’s current transfer situation, especially as Ancelotti has so far refused to admit that he might look to spend in January.

The Reggiolo native repeats that same line here, professing his faith in the current squad and the young players who have the potential to come to the fore.

Top team | Ancelotti saluted "awesome progression"

“If there are no injuries we are determined not to change the composition of the squad. There are two strikers going to the Africa Cup of Nations, [Didier] Drogba and [Salomon] Kalou,” he stated.

“But right behind them we have two boys with a great future, [Daniel] Sturridge and Fabio Borini. Borini is a very, very, very interesting 19-year-old from Bologna.”

The praise for Borini might be as much to do with his nationality as his current ability, especially as both young strikers have barely been exposed to first-team football this season.

But nevertheless such comments act as an indication of the manager's faith in his current squad.

All in all, Ancelotti’s candid discussion gives a valuable insight into his increasingly impressive Chelsea regime.

Alex Dimond, Goal.com

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