As the dust settled on Chelsea's Champions League exit having lost at home to an Italian side for only the second time, the two managers were in agreement. Inter were worthy winners.
Having stifled Chelsea's usually potent attack at Stamford Bridge, the Serie A champions made sure their first-leg lead was preserved when Samuel Eto'o scored late in the game. It sent the Blues out at the first knockout stage for the first time since 2006 when Eto'o, then of Barcelona, also scored in the match at the Bridge.
Four years further on Jose Mourinho deployed the Cameroon striker and Macedonian Goran Pandev in wide attacking positions and their contribution was important according to the defeated manager.
'It did not surprise me how Inter lined up because that was how they played in last 30 minutes in San Siro,' Ancelotti said, 'but one thing I was surprised by was the hard work put in by the two wide men on the night.
'Inter played a very good game,' the Italian continued. 'They put strong pressure on the pitch on our midfielders so we were not able to play how we wanted. Inter deserved to win. We were never in full control. There was only a short period when we could control the game. We could have played better.'
Many who have seen the action will believe Chelsea were denied two penalties for fouls on Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba at corners, to add to the one denied to Kalou in the first leg, but the manager would not be drawn into any suggestion there is a reason why Chelsea suffer so in European competition.
'We are unlucky, only this. A penalty is when the referee whistles. The referee didn't whistle so I don't want to comment.'
Ancelotti was not able pass judgement on Drogba's late red card either. In common with most in the stadium he had missed the off-the-ball incident.
'I am very, very happy because we won and because we were the best team,' announced Jose Mourinho when it was his turn to pass comment.
'Sometimes you win because you are lucky, sometimes you win because something happened during the game that made the ball go to one side and not the other, and sometimes because you are the best team.
'Sometimes you win because you are the best team from the first minute to the last and that is the perfect game. And that team was my team so I am very happy for them, very happy for the Inter supporters and very happy for myself because I worked so much to prepare this game.
'I am not happy because my ex-players lost, I am not happy because Roman lost, I am not happy because Chelsea supporters go home sad. I am happy with our happiness, not with their unhappiness.
'Yesterday I exchanged a few SMS with John Terry I told him tomorrow somebody will be sad, but that's life.
'Possibly I am no longer so special for Chelsea supporters who will probably never forgive me.'
'We are very sorry,' summed up Ancelotti, 'but we have to stay focussed on the other competitions.
'We are now only in two competition but they are of high importance. For sure we have more pressure now on the other games but we have to be strong and have good control of our emotions - and maybe this defeat can be good motivation.'
Having stifled Chelsea's usually potent attack at Stamford Bridge, the Serie A champions made sure their first-leg lead was preserved when Samuel Eto'o scored late in the game. It sent the Blues out at the first knockout stage for the first time since 2006 when Eto'o, then of Barcelona, also scored in the match at the Bridge.
Four years further on Jose Mourinho deployed the Cameroon striker and Macedonian Goran Pandev in wide attacking positions and their contribution was important according to the defeated manager.
'It did not surprise me how Inter lined up because that was how they played in last 30 minutes in San Siro,' Ancelotti said, 'but one thing I was surprised by was the hard work put in by the two wide men on the night.
'Inter played a very good game,' the Italian continued. 'They put strong pressure on the pitch on our midfielders so we were not able to play how we wanted. Inter deserved to win. We were never in full control. There was only a short period when we could control the game. We could have played better.'
Many who have seen the action will believe Chelsea were denied two penalties for fouls on Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba at corners, to add to the one denied to Kalou in the first leg, but the manager would not be drawn into any suggestion there is a reason why Chelsea suffer so in European competition.
'We are unlucky, only this. A penalty is when the referee whistles. The referee didn't whistle so I don't want to comment.'
Ancelotti was not able pass judgement on Drogba's late red card either. In common with most in the stadium he had missed the off-the-ball incident.
'I am very, very happy because we won and because we were the best team,' announced Jose Mourinho when it was his turn to pass comment.
'Sometimes you win because you are lucky, sometimes you win because something happened during the game that made the ball go to one side and not the other, and sometimes because you are the best team.
'Sometimes you win because you are the best team from the first minute to the last and that is the perfect game. And that team was my team so I am very happy for them, very happy for the Inter supporters and very happy for myself because I worked so much to prepare this game.
'I am not happy because my ex-players lost, I am not happy because Roman lost, I am not happy because Chelsea supporters go home sad. I am happy with our happiness, not with their unhappiness.
'Yesterday I exchanged a few SMS with John Terry I told him tomorrow somebody will be sad, but that's life.
'Possibly I am no longer so special for Chelsea supporters who will probably never forgive me.'
'We are very sorry,' summed up Ancelotti, 'but we have to stay focussed on the other competitions.
'We are now only in two competition but they are of high importance. For sure we have more pressure now on the other games but we have to be strong and have good control of our emotions - and maybe this defeat can be good motivation.'
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