Ancelotti concedes title as Chelsea held
Goalless draw at Fulham keeps holders in fifth position.
LONDON:
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti conceded defeat in the Premier League title race after his side played out a goalless draw at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
His goalkeeper Petr Cech saved a Clint Dempsey penalty in the last minute of a game with precious few chances. But the draw means Chelsea are now 12 points behind leaders Manchester United with as many games to play.
And Ancelotti admits the FA Cup and the Champions League are Chelsea’s only hopes of trophies this season.
“Now is too much,” he said. “Our aim is to play every game like we played tonight: use the spirit and the attitude. Obviously it’s very difficult to come back to fight for the title, but we have a very important aim to reach until the end with the FA Cup.
“We want to come back quickly into the top four, and the Champions League returns next week. The most important thing is to finish in the top four.”
I’m an optimist and there’s good reason to have confidence. I try to be objective every time. The football we showed tonight was good, and we have to continue it.”
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres had another disappointing display after he was chosen to start ahead of Didier Drogba. But Ancelotti believes his £50million striker he bought on transfer deadline day will prove to be worth the outlay.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti conceded defeat in the Premier League title race after his side played out a goalless draw at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
His goalkeeper Petr Cech saved a Clint Dempsey penalty in the last minute of a game with precious few chances. But the draw means Chelsea are now 12 points behind leaders Manchester United with as many games to play.
And Ancelotti admits the FA Cup and the Champions League are Chelsea’s only hopes of trophies this season.
“Now is too much,” he said. “Our aim is to play every game like we played tonight: use the spirit and the attitude. Obviously it’s very difficult to come back to fight for the title, but we have a very important aim to reach until the end with the FA Cup.
“We want to come back quickly into the top four, and the Champions League returns next week. The most important thing is to finish in the top four.”
I’m an optimist and there’s good reason to have confidence. I try to be objective every time. The football we showed tonight was good, and we have to continue it.”
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres had another disappointing display after he was chosen to start ahead of Didier Drogba. But Ancelotti believes his £50million striker he bought on transfer deadline day will prove to be worth the outlay.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.