Ancelotti: "The Game Against Portsmouth Is Very, Very Important"

A despondent Carlo Ancelotti targeted Chelsea’s next game at Portsmouth on Wednesday night following a disappointing draw at Blackburn on Sunday.

Following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw Ancelotti said: "It’s difficult to explain why this has happened. We have less probability of winning the title, but we want to fight. We need to work together, stay compact and the game against Portsmouth is very, very important. We can stay close to Manchester United."

Ancelotti continued: "I don’t know how many points we need to win the title. We need to win on Wednesday. We have to win, that’s the only solution to go forward. We needed to win this game and didn’t so it’s more difficult for us. It’s been a hard week, but every week is hard. We have chances to arrive in first place."

Chelsea’s Italian boss denied the result at Ewood Park was a hangover from the Champions League exit at the hands of Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho.

Ancelotti: "I don’t know about a hangover. We prepared very well for this game and tried to win to cancel out [the defeat] against Inter. It’s not an easy moment for us and it will be difficult to recover. We have to leave this moment as quickly as possible. It was a difficult game. There was a lot of fight on the pitch. We tried to play football, but we lost confidence. They put pressure on us. Afterwards we had chances, but it was too late."

Branislav Ivanovic picked up an injury at Blackburn and is an injury doubt for the trip to Fratton Park but Petr Cech is expected to return for Chelsea.

John Obi Mikel Calls On Chelsea Team-Mates To Turn Season Around

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has called upon his team-mates to pick themselves up after a week of disappointment domestically and in Europe, and begin to turn their season around.

After losing to Inter in the Champions League and subsequently drawing against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, the Blues find their European and league dreams in tatters, but Mikel hasn't given up yet.

"I think the belief, mentality and everything is still there," Mikel told the Press Association.

"In football sometimes you have a bad spell and we are having ours right now. We made the mistakes so we have to repair it."

The 22-year-old remains confident that the Blues can still lift the Premier League title, despite letting a five-point lead slip over the past few months.

"We have to fight as a team, not as individuals," Mikel said.

"We played a very good game in the first half yesterday [at Blackburn] but in the second we didn't fight well enough.

"The owner [Abramovich] just came to show support. We still have the double [league and FA Cup] to win and that's what he came to assure us.

"He's a football fan and understands but at the same time he wants us to put things right.

"Everyone was shattered after losing to Inter, which is why he came over - to tell us to keep going. All we can do now is look forward to Wednesday [against Portsmouth] and, hopefully, put things right."

Lampard Proves To Be A Class Act Yet Again

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard set the bar high for his peers yet again in terms of demonstrating fair play. Many other football players around the world would have thought twice before getting back on their feet after going to the ground in the final moments of a game. Sunday afternoon’s game against Blackburn, in particular, was one such game where circumstances could have forced any player to resort to desperate tacticts.

With the Blues struggling to take the lead in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, Lampard was obviously one of the key players who the visitors were relying on. During one quick play, his teammates even managed to get the ball to him in his favored territory at the top of the box, and as Lamps broke inside the box, he lost his balance. As a result, the visiting supporters – as well as several Chelsea players – appealed hard for a penalty as soon as Lampard hit the turf.

The referee, not ideally positioned to make an immediate call, paused for a second before insisting that the play go on. One of the reasons the head official Steve Bennett was able to deliver the right verdict was the sportsmanship shown by Lampard in getting back to his feet right away. Lampard knew that despite all the desperation in the world that his club faces at the moment, he had to do the right thing to lead by example.

Not only did Lampard’s actions prove that he is one of the greatest professionals for young fans to look up to, but in maintaining his integrity, he also sent a message to those who believe that diving is an inseparable part of the modern game. To reiterate, Chelsea’s form has lately been so poor that anyone in Lampard’s shoes could have been tempted to stay down and pressurize the referee to award a penalty.

Frank Lampard, though, continues to stand out as he continues to build his reputation as one of England’s finest football players of all time.

Cole First Out As Abramovich Sees Error Of His Ways

Fifteen minutes after the final whistle blew on Chelsea’s latest unsuccessful tilt at the Champions League, Roman Abramovich, flanked by minders, took a long, lonely trudge across the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

His face, as ever, was inscrutable, but enough noises have come out of Stamford Bridge to tell us what he was thinking. Disappointment with Carlo Ancelotti? Yes, a little. Anger with his players for failing to deliver the performances in proportion with their pay-packets? Yes, plenty. Regret at losing sight of the big picture over the past year or two? Intriguingly, yes.

Abramovich, according to someone close to him, is facing up to having made mistakes. To an outsider, the obvious one was falling out with José Mourinho, but the Chelsea owner is more concerned by the way he has allowed his squad to grow older — and, very significantly, richer — while seeing Manchester United re-establish themselves as the dominant force in English football.

One example cited was that of the John Terry contract saga last summer, when he was wanted by Manchester City. Abramovich, apparently, was "spooked" by the possibility that his captain had been attracted to City’s riches, so Terry was offered — and duly signed — a new deal worth £151,000 a week. Six months later, Abramovich recognises that, while it would have been unwise to sell Terry, a five-year £40 million contract for a defender approaching his 29th birthday was not good business.

It goes on. Aware of the need to rejuvenate an ageing squad but committed to his ambition to make the club self-sufficient, Abramovich planned to raise funds for reinforcements this summer by selling a key player or two. But who is there to sell? The time to cash in on Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard, Deco, Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka has gone, with their market value — and in certain cases their performance level — now in decline.

Considering it was always Abramovich’s aim for Chelsea to break even by 2010, the lack of forward planning is staggering. Although the precise figure has not yet been released, Chelsea’s wage bill for the last financial year was more than £150 million. United’s was a not inconsiderable £123 million, but the champions’ turnover was £72 million higher than Chelsea’s. In terms of wages as a percentage of turnover, Chelsea spent at least 70 per cent. The equivalent figures at United and Arsenal are 44 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.

Abramovich accepts that to rejuvenate the squad he will have to spend, but he is loath to throw good money after bad. Joe Cole, out of contract this summer, seems destined to be the first victim of a purge of the older players, but he might not be the only one.

Robinho Warns Brazilian Wonderkid Neymar To Avoid Joining Chelsea

Brazilian wonderkid Neymar is ready to take Robinho's advice and snub a move to Chelsea.

The 18-year-old, who has been backed by Pele to go to the World Cup finals this summer, is reluctant to leave his homeland at such a young age after being told to stay put by the City loan star and his own father.

Chelsea have tracked the forward for more than two years and are weighing up a £20m move, but Santos recently tied Neymar to a contract till 2014 and insist he will not be sold for less than his £31.5m release clause.

Third-party investors Grupo DIS secured 40 per cent of Neymar's economic rights when the new contract was agreed with Santos in February.

DIS deny reports that they met Chelsea officials earlier this month and say they agreed with Santos that their star player should stay in Brazil for at least another year.

Wilkins Confirms Roman Talks

Ray Wilkins has confirmed club owner Roman Abramovich held talks with the Chelsea squad in the wake of their UEFA Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.

The wealthy Russian businessman has made no secret of his desire to see the Blues crowned champions of Europe, with coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting that was his target when appointed in the summer.

A succession of managers have all been unable to deliver the greatest prize in European club football, with Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink all failing before Ancelotti's appointment.

Reports claimed that Abramovich issued an ultimatum to the squad after they crashed out of the competition at the last-16 stage to former boss Mourinho and threatened wholesale changes in the summer.

But assistant boss Wilkins has played down those suggestions and insists the playing staff are always happy to hear what the owner has to say.

Wilkins said: "It was a very positive meeting that the players have had with Roman so from that aspect he just added his support to the situation.

"We were delighted to see him, he's always extremely involved in the club.

"He owns the club and wants to have a big input into what happens. So whenever he is down it is a positive as far as we're concerned.

"He's very close to the players, he knows the way they work so therefore he wanted to have a little input with them during the week. It was nothing dramatic, it was all pretty low-key stuff so we just get on with the business now."

Wilkins accepted changes in playing personnel were likely this summer, but said that was a normal occurrence at any big club.

"Seasons pass on, people are brought in and people leave the club and that's the way football is," he said.

"We're no different to any other football club. We want to improve, we want to go forward and if it means a few players go along the way and a few come in that is just the way football is run.

"Whenever a top-quality player becomes available, a top club like ours will always be involved in the process."

Hansen: Chelsea Do Not Have The Desire To Win The Premier League

Liverpool FC legend Alan Hansen believes Chelsea FC lack the desire to win the Premier League title this season, and believes Manchester United and Arsenal FC will be the main contenders for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea FC’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at the weekend has handed the initiative to Manchester United and Arsenal FC, and Liverpool FC hero Hansen suggests age maybe catching up with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Hansen, who won eight league titles with Liverpool FC during his illustrious Anfield playing career, believes Chelsea FC should have had the tile wrapped up by now, but recent stuttering form has enabled Manchester United and Arsenal FC to fight their way back in. Hansen suggests the likes of Jon Obi-Mikel and Michael Ballack amongst others appear to be passengers at Stamford Bridge.

The Liverpool FC legend told the Telegraph: “Chelsea's failure to win at Blackburn on Sunday, when they should have won by five or six, proved that they simply do not have the desire to win the Premier League.”

“The title run-in is well underway, but Manchester United and Arsenal are the only teams who have that genuine desire to win it.”

“There has never been a season when the title has been there for the taking as it has been this year and Chelsea should have won it by a country mile.”

“United have struggled for a long time and produced more bad performances than I can ever remember.”

“Arsenal, having lost heavily to both United and Chelsea, should have been out of the race a long time ago. Chelsea should be home and hosed by now but, for whatever reason, they have not shown the desire required to win the league.”

“Why has that happened? It could be down to a host of reasons, but biggest question is do they really want it? If you look at Arsenal and United in recent weeks, their performances tell you categorically that they desperately want to win the league.”

“That’s why I believe that the title race is now between those two. Chelsea are not out of it, but they don’t appear to want it enough.”

“Sunday was a real marker for them. Having seen United beat Liverpool following Arsenal’s win against West Ham on Saturday, Chelsea could and should have beaten Blackburn inside 25 minutes, but it didn’t happen.”

“Maybe age is catching up with Chelsea and they certainly lack pace in key areas.”

“If they don’t win the league, they will need fresh blood in the summer with four or five new signings, but what happens next all depends on Roman Abramovich and whether he has the desire to start again.”

“Chelsea might point to the injury that has cost them the services of Michael Essien because he has been a huge loss. But that excuse doesn’t wash because Arsenal have been without Robin van Persie for months and United have had to deal with both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic being injured for long periods.”

“Chelsea have too many players whose contribution comes into question. What does John Obi Mikel do? Michael Ballack doesn’t do enough, yet he looks like getting a new contract. Salomon Kalou is in and out and Nicolas Anelka, who looked brilliant earlier in the season, has now gone off the boil.”

“There are no young players coming through who look like replacing the ageing superstars.”

Carlo Ancelotti Concedes Chelsea Have Lost Composure

Carlo Ancelotti conceded tonight that his Chelsea team had lost confidence and composure after their second demoralising result in a week. Six days after going out of the Champions League they could only draw 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers and their manager admitted they were no longer favourites for the Premier League title.

Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a sixth‑minute lead with his 28th goal of the season but they threw away a winning position when El Hadji Diouf equalised in the second half. Ancelotti later accepted that Manchester United were now "strongly placed" for what would be their fourth championship in a row. "For us it is less of a probability," he said.

In all competitions Chelsea have won five and lost four of their last 11 games and Ancelotti believes the rot set in when they were beaten 4-2 at home by Manchester City on 27 February. "That result was unbelievable and since that day we have been in difficulty," he said. "The confidence is not there at the moment and winning is the only solution, starting at Portsmouth on Wednesday. It is vital that we win that one.

"It is more difficult for us to win the title now. It is not impossible but to do it we need to play better. Collectively we need to work together to go forward. I don't know how many points we need but it is possible that we will have to win every game."
Chelsea and their manager were encouraged by the fact that United still had to play at Ewood Park, on 11 April. Ancelotti said: "It will be difficult here for them, too. Blackburn at home are very strong. They have lost here only twice and you have to fight them for everything. Every team finds it difficult here."

After Portsmouth on Wednesday Chelsea play Aston Villa at home and Manchester United away in what the midfielder Frank Lampard described tonight as "make or break" fixtures.

Ancelotti was asked if his team had been suffering a hangover after elimination from the Champions League by Internazionale. "I'm not sure about that but I don't think so," he said. "In the first half we played well, scored a good goal and had other chances, which we should have taken. In the second half it was more difficult for us to play on the floor because Blackburn won a lot of the second balls and when that happened we lost our composure.

"By the time we got it back it was too late. Manchester United are now top of the league and we have to run more and do better and leave this behind us as soon as possible."

Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, believes Chelsea could still pull off a league and FA Cup double. "We've put a dent in their chances but they are still capable of doing it," he said.