There are some football managers - no need to mention names here - who given a similar scenario to the one Carlo Ancelotti finds himself in this weekend, would not only speak about their team and forthcoming opponents, but would also have plenty to say about teams in action elsewhere.
Ancelotti's first year in charge of Chelsea has been characterised by a calmness and that isn't about to end now the final and decisive month is here.
'To do mind games is not my job,' the Italian says on the eve of the trip to Anfield.
'I am not able to do this. I prefer to stay focused with my players. I have a lot of things to think about because we have to prepare well the game, tactically, technically and physically, and this is our aim this week. I don't stay too much about the other things.
'I don't think this is important,' he says of public pronouncements ahead of a big fixture
'What is important is to have a good feeling with the players this week to control the pressure and to maintain a good atmosphere in the squad. We have to have pressure but not too much. We have to believe that we are able to win against Liverpool on Sunday.'
At the end of a week when a former Chelsea manager, not unknown to talk a lot before a big game, celebrated his latest triumph in exuberant style, his successor is unlikely to copy a victory run across the pitch even if the Blues are successful at Anfield.
'I'd risk injury,' Ancelotti smiles.
'I did when I won the Champions League. I ran like Jose [Mourinho] last week. It depends how your emotion is but when Milan won in Manchester I ran after the penalty of Andriy Shevchenko.
'I didn't send Jose a text this week but I did after their first game against Barcelona,' he reveals. 'It said, "Compliments, congratulations."'
Far more comfortable speaking about Chelsea, the boss admitted that the team's potency in front of goal this season, which has included three seven-goal hauls, has been a pleasant surprise.
'I did not think this team could score so many as 93 goals, but I am happy. We try to play attacking football and we are a team that can use a midfielder who can score 25 goals in a season. Nobody else has this.
'We have fantastic strikers and we also have support from midfield. We have Frank Lampard with 25 goals, Florent Malouda who has scored 15 goals although he is not a striker. This is why we scored so many goals.'
Ancelotti's first year in charge of Chelsea has been characterised by a calmness and that isn't about to end now the final and decisive month is here.
'To do mind games is not my job,' the Italian says on the eve of the trip to Anfield.
'I am not able to do this. I prefer to stay focused with my players. I have a lot of things to think about because we have to prepare well the game, tactically, technically and physically, and this is our aim this week. I don't stay too much about the other things.
'I don't think this is important,' he says of public pronouncements ahead of a big fixture
'What is important is to have a good feeling with the players this week to control the pressure and to maintain a good atmosphere in the squad. We have to have pressure but not too much. We have to believe that we are able to win against Liverpool on Sunday.'
At the end of a week when a former Chelsea manager, not unknown to talk a lot before a big game, celebrated his latest triumph in exuberant style, his successor is unlikely to copy a victory run across the pitch even if the Blues are successful at Anfield.
'I'd risk injury,' Ancelotti smiles.
'I did when I won the Champions League. I ran like Jose [Mourinho] last week. It depends how your emotion is but when Milan won in Manchester I ran after the penalty of Andriy Shevchenko.
'I didn't send Jose a text this week but I did after their first game against Barcelona,' he reveals. 'It said, "Compliments, congratulations."'
Far more comfortable speaking about Chelsea, the boss admitted that the team's potency in front of goal this season, which has included three seven-goal hauls, has been a pleasant surprise.
'I did not think this team could score so many as 93 goals, but I am happy. We try to play attacking football and we are a team that can use a midfielder who can score 25 goals in a season. Nobody else has this.
'We have fantastic strikers and we also have support from midfield. We have Frank Lampard with 25 goals, Florent Malouda who has scored 15 goals although he is not a striker. This is why we scored so many goals.'
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