Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea's UEFA Champions League exit could prove to be a blessing in disguise with regards the title race.
While Premier League leaders Manchester United and third placed Arsenal retain an interest in Europe's premier club competition, Chelsea failed to reach the last eight as they crashed out to Inter Milan.
The Italian is refusing to be downbeat though as he instead points to the fact the physical and mental energy expended by Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson's teams could work in his own side's favour.
United will face Bayern Munich on Tuesday and then welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford four days later, and Ancelotti is hoping to make the most of any United fatigue - either mental or physical.
"I agree with Arsene," said Ancelotti. "Mentally, it wasn't good for us to go out of the Champions League.
"But after the victory against Portsmouth, this moment is finished. We have to look at every game. We play Aston Villa on Saturday and then have a week to prepare for Manchester United.
"That could be an advantage for us. Before, we had midweek games. We are disappointed to be out of the Champions League, but it could be an advantage.
"The quarter-finals will take out a lot of energy, not only physically but mentally. We can take advantage of that if we prepare well our own games, and if we play with good tempo, a good high tempo.
"The pressure is the same for all the teams now. We are arriving towards the end of the season and every game is very important. The pressure is normal at this stage of the season."
Before they face United, Chelsea must overcome an Aston Villa side chasing a place in the top four, who beat the Blues 2-1 earlier in the season.
Ancelotti is determined not to let his players get too carried away with the battle looming at Old Trafford.
"United will be an important game, but it's for three points," said Ancelotti. "We have to think about the Villa game, not the United game.
"The last time we played Villa we lost, so we want to do different tomorrow. For me, now, the most important game is tomorrow. Not United.
"It's a very important test. We're playing a strong team, a team that won their last game against us.
"They have very good organisation, they are a very dynamic team with a lot of quick players and are good on the counter-attack and set-pieces.
"It's a very important game and a very important test for us. I want to know that our bad moment is finished.
"We had a very good reaction in the game at Portsmouth. A good indication for the game was that we played 90 minutes well, with the ball on the floor and determination in our game.
"We were a bit lucky, too, with the first goal, but that's a good thing. That means things are changing.
"At this moment in the season to have one more point or one less point is not so important. Every team - Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea - need to win their games. If you are in good condition, mental and physical, you can win.
"So it's not more important to have one more or one less point. It's important to stay fit and have optimism and confidence to win the game."
While Premier League leaders Manchester United and third placed Arsenal retain an interest in Europe's premier club competition, Chelsea failed to reach the last eight as they crashed out to Inter Milan.
The Italian is refusing to be downbeat though as he instead points to the fact the physical and mental energy expended by Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson's teams could work in his own side's favour.
United will face Bayern Munich on Tuesday and then welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford four days later, and Ancelotti is hoping to make the most of any United fatigue - either mental or physical.
"I agree with Arsene," said Ancelotti. "Mentally, it wasn't good for us to go out of the Champions League.
"But after the victory against Portsmouth, this moment is finished. We have to look at every game. We play Aston Villa on Saturday and then have a week to prepare for Manchester United.
"That could be an advantage for us. Before, we had midweek games. We are disappointed to be out of the Champions League, but it could be an advantage.
"The quarter-finals will take out a lot of energy, not only physically but mentally. We can take advantage of that if we prepare well our own games, and if we play with good tempo, a good high tempo.
"The pressure is the same for all the teams now. We are arriving towards the end of the season and every game is very important. The pressure is normal at this stage of the season."
Before they face United, Chelsea must overcome an Aston Villa side chasing a place in the top four, who beat the Blues 2-1 earlier in the season.
Ancelotti is determined not to let his players get too carried away with the battle looming at Old Trafford.
"United will be an important game, but it's for three points," said Ancelotti. "We have to think about the Villa game, not the United game.
"The last time we played Villa we lost, so we want to do different tomorrow. For me, now, the most important game is tomorrow. Not United.
"It's a very important test. We're playing a strong team, a team that won their last game against us.
"They have very good organisation, they are a very dynamic team with a lot of quick players and are good on the counter-attack and set-pieces.
"It's a very important game and a very important test for us. I want to know that our bad moment is finished.
"We had a very good reaction in the game at Portsmouth. A good indication for the game was that we played 90 minutes well, with the ball on the floor and determination in our game.
"We were a bit lucky, too, with the first goal, but that's a good thing. That means things are changing.
"At this moment in the season to have one more point or one less point is not so important. Every team - Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea - need to win their games. If you are in good condition, mental and physical, you can win.
"So it's not more important to have one more or one less point. It's important to stay fit and have optimism and confidence to win the game."
No comments:
Post a Comment