Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has responded to the Blues 1-0 win over Bolton on Tuesday night by pronouncing his team is favourites to win the Premier League title.
A close range header from former Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka was the difference and now Chelsea lead the table by four points.
Ancelotti said: "Now the Premier League is in our hands and we have to stay focused and calm. We have to play game by game, and we are not interested in the results of the other teams. There was pressure on us to get this result because we needed to improve our position, but I think the players now have very good motivation to finish the season well."
The Italian continued: "It was not an easy game. We knew it wouldn't be, because Bolton came to Stamford Bridge to play their game. They put pressure for all the 90 minutes, a lot of long balls. It was a tough game for us, but I think that Chelsea did a good job and won, which was the most important thing. We were unlucky not to improve the scoreline at the start of the second half, but we needed the three points. We had 21 shots, so we deserved to win. There's no debate about this. It was difficult because, when you're 1-0 up, you have to be careful right to the end. For me, it was a very good performance."
The Chelsea boss also rejected suggestions from Owen Coyle that Bolton should have had two penalties: "I don't have a reaction to the penalties. I maintain the same opinion: it's not my job to judge the work of the referees. I never did, even if we were unlucky at their decisions. I didn't see the incidents. I trust in the referee."
A close range header from former Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka was the difference and now Chelsea lead the table by four points.
Ancelotti said: "Now the Premier League is in our hands and we have to stay focused and calm. We have to play game by game, and we are not interested in the results of the other teams. There was pressure on us to get this result because we needed to improve our position, but I think the players now have very good motivation to finish the season well."
The Italian continued: "It was not an easy game. We knew it wouldn't be, because Bolton came to Stamford Bridge to play their game. They put pressure for all the 90 minutes, a lot of long balls. It was a tough game for us, but I think that Chelsea did a good job and won, which was the most important thing. We were unlucky not to improve the scoreline at the start of the second half, but we needed the three points. We had 21 shots, so we deserved to win. There's no debate about this. It was difficult because, when you're 1-0 up, you have to be careful right to the end. For me, it was a very good performance."
The Chelsea boss also rejected suggestions from Owen Coyle that Bolton should have had two penalties: "I don't have a reaction to the penalties. I maintain the same opinion: it's not my job to judge the work of the referees. I never did, even if we were unlucky at their decisions. I didn't see the incidents. I trust in the referee."
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