United Going Out Is Bad For Us, Says Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti today admitted he is devastated Manchester United and Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League this week because he fears it will put Chelsea's title hopes at greater risk.

Chelsea lead United and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League by just two and three points respectively and Ancelotti hoped their rivals would continue to be distracted by playing in Europe.

But Arsenal were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final, while United crashed out on away goals to Bayern Munich thanks to a strike from former Blues winger Arjen Robben.

Ancelotti feels both clubs will be even more determined to ensure their season's don't end in failure and said: "I think it is not good news for us. The Champions League is a very important competition and you have to use a lot of energy to play.

"But both teams can now focus on the Premier League. It is the only competition they can play. We have to pay attention because they're very close to us and we need to run quickly to arrive in first place.

"I would have liked United to win against Bayern and to stay in the Champions League, for us it would have been easier."

United's next League game is at Blackburn, which is where Chelsea dropped two crucial points last month after they were knocked out of the Champions League themselves by Inter Milan.

But Ancelotti is convinced United will bounce back at Ewood Park even though they have been beaten by Chelsea and Bayern Munich in their first leg over the last two weeks.

He added: "They had a bad week. They lost a quarter-final, lost against us, but now they have a possibility to come back to win and to play well. They have experience to change their state of mind, to stay focused. United have experience and quality."

Carlo Ancelotti Told Not To Go For Pato

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been told to forget about making a summer raid for Brazil star Pato.

The Premier League leaders face Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday chasing the League and Cup Double and will want to strengthen in the summer to keep alive their dream of European glory.

Ancelotti signed the 20-year-old Pato for Milan in 2007 from South American team Internacional.

The striker has netted 36 goals in 74 games in Italy and Real Madrid are also keen. But Pato’s agent Gilmar Veloz insisted the player was going nowhere.

He said: “Chelsea and Real? These are only market rumours.

“There is nothing true. He has a deal with Milan and he feels good in Milan.”

Pato – whose name means duck – is under contract at Milan for another four years.

Capello Issues Cole Warning

Fabio Capello has warned Ashley Cole he will only pick him for England if he proves his fitness between now and the end of the season.

The Chelsea left-back has been sidelined since February after breaking his ankle and is facing a race against time to be fit for South Africa.

He has been pencilled in to return for Chelsea's home game with Stoke on 25th April and he will do so with Capello's words ringing in his ears.

"I know not all the players will be in the same shape. Some will have played the whole season, some will have played only half the season," he told Four Four Two magazine.

"If, for example, Ashley Cole is only half-fit, that's not enough. He needs to play too. After three months of being injured he will need games."

Capello went on to explain he is not a fan of playing players out of position and that he plans to use specialists at the World Cup.

Working on a marking system out of ten, the Italian concedes he has plenty of thinking to do before finalising his squad.

He added: "I think to myself: the value of this player is 10, another is nine, another is eight and a half. And I choose (the players with the) most (points).

"Everyone has different qualities. For some positions, one characteristic is more important than the other one.

"It depends on the position, it depends on different moments in the game, it depends on the opponents.

"I prefer the specialist. I think that 11 specialists win against 11 players who can play in different positions. It is nice to see players who can play in different positions though. There will be times when you have to do this."

Ancelotti: Premier League Still Best Despite Champions League Failure

Carlo Ancelotti today insisted England's Champion League failure was "a blip" and not a long-term trend.

Chelsea boss Ancelotti admitted he would have preferred to see Arsenal and Manchester United overcome Barcelona and Bayern Munich rather than be eliminated, for purely selfish reasons.

But the Italian, whose side were put out in the last round by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's Inter, dismissed fears that English football was now going backwards.

Ancelotti said: "Nothing has changed. The Premier League is a very competitive championship. It's a case that can happen that sometimes.

"The English teams have very good strength. This year was a blip. Nothing more.

"I still think the Premier League is the best league in Europe, despite what has happened.

"It is, not only for the players and strength of the teams but the atmosphere. The quality of the teams is very competitive.

"I'm not only talking about the big four clubs but also Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham, who can stay at the highest level of this championship."

Ancelotti Is Living Proof That Nice Guys Can Come First

If awards were given for dignity, then Carlo Ancelotti would be the runaway winner. No question.

In both defeat and victory, the Italian has the same demeanour. It was impossible to miss his victory celebration at Old Trafford because, by the standards set by Jose Mourinho and others, there was no charge down the touchline when his Chelsea team secured what could be a defining victory in the Premier League title.

No. Ancelotti contented himself with a joyous clenching of both fists and then shook hands with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Unlike Mourinho at Old Trafford on that famous occasion when he was in charge at Porto, his trousers will not need a visit to the dry cleaners after a slide down the touchline.

Like his team, Ancelotti has more than a touch of class. He has been there, seen it and done it. A defeat at home to Inter Milan in the Champions League supposedly exposed his naivety - not an affliction common among Italian coaches it has to be said.

Quite simply, Chelsea were beaten by a better side and Ancelotti knew it. But no panic. No threats. No talk of UEFA subversion, even though his team may well have been awarded two penalties.

Ancelotti just went about re-grouping his men and switching the focus to the prizes still on offer. The response has been staggering. The thoroughly deserved win against Manchester United was the culmination of emphatic wins over Portsmouth and Aston Villa. Clearly Ancelotti has the respect of his players because a deflated, disenchanted and disillusioned team do not put seven past Villa.

But there was no triumphalism about his demeanour after the win at United. Just a clam assessment of the win and the acknowledgement that tough battles lay ahead before there can be an talk of championships.

He did stray into the realms of stating the obvious when he noted United are not the same team without Wayne Rooney, but that is hardly in controversy territory.

Let's get it right - Ancelotti is no robot. But he is an ultra-professional and a clear thinker and he has started to make jokes in English rather than use sarcastic asides like one of his predecessors. He also has the track record of being a winner in Serie A and in the Champions League.

He keeps a calm, assured perspective. He treats victory and defeat in the same manner - Rudyard Kipling, who called those eventualities "imposters", would have loved Carlo Ancelotti.

A proven winner and a gentleman. There are many who might like to take note of that.

Reserves Report: Birmingham City 0 - 1 Chelsea

A young second string created some fantastic football to overcome an experienced Birmingham side at St Andrew's on Wednesday night.

Jacob Mellis's strike deep in the second half was enough to seal the win as Chelsea played some beautiful football against a physical Birmingham side, which included seven first team regulars. Both sides ended the game with 10 men.

Maik Taylor, Gregory Vignal, Michel, Sebastian Larrson, Lee Carsley, Teemu Tanio and Chucho Benitez all started. Stuart Parnaby was meant to begin in the hosts' defence but illness forced him to miss the clash.

Meanwhile, Chelsea lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam Hutchinson leading from central defence. In front of him were Liam Bridcutt and Nemanja Matic.

Fabio Borini was the lone striker while Gael Kakuta, Josh McEachran and Jacob Mellis all lined up behind. Only five of our side had played first team football.

Regardless of the hosts' experience, Chelsea were first to attempt a strike. Gael Kakuta prospered from hard work by Fabio Borini on the right flank but the Frenchman's subsequent shot from the edge of the area went skimming past the post.

Continuing the offensive start, Kakuta soon produced another chance on goal while Nana Ofori-Twumasi received treatment on the sidelines for a knock on his ankle. The first 10 minutes were Chelsea's.

But as the hosts settled, the game became a more equal affair. Sam Hutchinson was called into action twice in central defence to diffuse Birmingham's attacks. Then, with 15 minutes played, Larrson forced a good save from Taylor with a freekick from 30 yards out.

Chelsea retaliated, with Van Aanholt twice delivering dangerous crosses into the box. The second was only inches away from Borini's feet before Josh McEachran nearly netted the stray ball in front of goal.

We'd claimed the best of the opening exchanges and before the half-hour mark arrived, Mellis, Kakuta and Matic had all created further chances.

Safe hands from Rhys Taylor denied Teemu Tanio's first shot of the game, a low drive towards the bottom left, before a Lee Carsley chance had the Welshman at full stretch to tip away for a corner.

The closest either side came to scoring in the first half was a Borini chance at the near post, which went spinning across the face of goal before narrowly heading wide.

As the second half got under way, there was a change made to the Chelsea defence. Conor Clifford came on for Hutchinson and took up a right-back role while Ofori-Twumasi moved into the centre.

Like the first half, the second began with a Kakuta chance from the edge of the box, an opportunity the young Frenchman sent screaming over the bar.

The first card of the game was brandished minutes later when Ofori-Twumasi slipped and handballed, stalling a Birmingham attack. Fortunately the eventual freekick from 35 yards strayed off target without ever threatening Chelsea's goal.

Van Aanholt continued to prove troublesome down the left, releasing one cross to the near post which Borini narrowly missed connecting with before the keeper gathered. Seconds later the Italian forced an acrobatic save from Maik Taylor.

Borini continuously hounded the Birmingham keeper, feeding off balls from Kakuta, Matic, van Aanholt and McEachran, but each shot was either parried away or sent over by the Italian.

But Chelsea were threatening and an away goal felt imminent. After Mellis and Ofori-Twumasi both received treatment at the same time following two separate challenges, the visitors won another freekick 25 yards out.

Van Aanholt, who'd put in a fantastic performance so far, sent a brilliant shot dipping over the wall before the keeper tipped over. McEachran took the corner, sending an awkward ball across the face of goal for Mellis to tap in with 76 minutes played.

With the lead established, Chelsea applied further pressure. Van Aanholt forced another good save from the Birmingham keeper when he smashed the ball towards the top right from 25 yards out.

But not neglecting his defensive duties, seconds later van Aanholt was back dispossessing substitute Akwasi Asante, who was at the tip of a Birmingham counter attack.

The dying minutes of the game were marred by a red card for Michel after a scuffle ensued following a Taylor save. Larrson was then shown a yellow for dissent.

Then, after some confusion, Ofori-Twumasi was also shown a second yellow, which ended his game prematurely.

The game finished 1-0, as both sides were left with 10. It was a tremendous performance from a young Chelsea side.

Cole And Essien Set To Boost Chelsea's Title Hopes

Chelsea's title hopes were boosted when they learned that injured defender Ashley Cole was likely to return for the last three games of the season.

"I think he needs some more days to train but we hope he will be ready for the game against Stoke (on April 25)," manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

"He is doing very well and so is Michael Essien. Maybe he will be one week later (than) Cole."

Ghana midfielder Essien has not played for the club since injuring his hamstring in December. He then suffered a knee problem at the African Nations Cup in January.

Leaders Chelsea are two points clear of Manchester United in the Premier League, with Arsenal a further point adrift and five games remaining.

The game against Stoke City comes directly before their last two league fixtures against Liverpool and Wigan Athletic.

Cole, England manager Fabio Capello's first-choice left back, has been fighting to get fit before the end of the season with the World Cup starting in South Africa on June 11.

The 29-year-old broke his left ankle at Everton at the start of February but returned to light training last month.

Ancelotti also said Serbia international Branislav Ivanovic trained on Thursday and could be on the bench for the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.

The defender has been out since he hurt his knee at Blackburn Rovers on March 21.

Drogba Wins Goal Of The Month

Didier Drogba has won Goal of the Month for February following his brace against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Only one of his two net-busters could win and our resident expert chose the thumping left-footed strike our number 11 took after cutting in from the right flank.

Four of the goals in this month's final five were scored by Florent Malouda, as he hit top-form against West Ham, Portsmouth and Villa.

The first goal is the Frenchman's left-footed drive against West Ham, as he calmly slotted past Robert Green from the edge of the box.

The second is Malouda's screaming shot against Portsmouth, as he collected on the left before dribbling and thumping into the top of the net.

After that, Drogba makes the selection with his expertly taken strike, also against Portsmouth, after he latched onto a fantastic long ball from Mikel.

The third goal in this month's five is our number 15's tap-in at the near post against Aston Villa before the final choice is Malouda's right-footed shot into the top of the net against the same side, as we thrashed Villa 7-1.