Ancelotti Staying Focused

Carlo Ancelotti looked ahead to Chelsea's next Premier League game after reaching the FA Cup final with victory over Aston Villa.

The Blues were made to work much harder at Wembley than when the teams last met in the league a couple of weeks ago and Villa were put to the sword 7-1.

But after a goalless first half, Didier Drogba broke the deadlock and Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard added late gloss to the scoreline.

Ancelotti was pleased to stay on track for a domestic double but called on his players to concentrate on the clash with Bolton in midweek.

"It is a good moment for us because we are confident and motivated," he said.

"But I don't want to think about what we could win. I want to focus on the next game.

"We are happy to be in the final, now we have five league games to play, starting against Bolton on Tuesday."

Martin O'Neill felt that Aston Villa should have been awarded a penalty in the first half for a foul by John Obi Mikel on Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Ancelotti replied: "It could have been a penalty, but also it might not have been.

"It was a very strong tackle in our box but the referee did not whistle. If he had it would have been a penalty."

The state of the Wembley pitch was again a talking point as players from both teams slipped on the greasy surface, although Ancelotti did not think it was too much of a problem.

"The pitch was fantastic," he said. "Some players did slip but it was adequate."

Frank Lampard: We Deserved To Beat Aston Villa In The Cup

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believed that the opening goal gave his side the confidence needed to go on and beat Aston Villa comfortably in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

The Blues midfielder felt that his side didn't get off to a great start, with Villa looking the better of the two teams going in at half-time.

However Lampard's shot midway through the second half was turned in by Didier Drogba, and late goals from Florent Malouda and Lampard himself completed a 3-0 victory.

"At half-time we said to each other we hadn't even started yet," Lampard told BBC Sport.

"The confidence came after the goal and we deserved it in the end."

The pitch was a major talking point in the build-up to the game and Lampard felt that the surface at Wembley was problematic for both teams.

"The pitch looked decent, but it was very hard underneath," the England midfielder admitted. "The [league and cup] double is still on, it'll be very tough but we want to go all the way."

Chelsea has the chance to retain the title against Porstmouth, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur after extra time at Wembley on Sunday.

Terry Has Double Vision

Chelsea captain John Terry is already concentrating on Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton as the Blues continue their bid to land the double.

Chelsea reached their third FA Cup final in four years with a 3-0 semi-final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley yesterday but the focus has already switched to their home game with Wanderers and their double bid.

Bolton have gained something of a reputation for spoiling the party at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons but Chelsea are determined to keep up the pressure on their rivals at the top of the table.

Goals from Didier Drogba, his 32nd of the season, Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard helped the FA Cup holders to set up a final against Portsmouth or Tottenham in May.

It also keeps them on course to become only the seventh club in history to win both competitions in the same season.

"We've got our eyes on the double now," declared Terry. "We are back at the top of the Premier League with five games to go and we are in the FA Cup final now so that's what our sights are on.

"We know we've got some tough games coming up but as long as we keep winning and working hard for each other it is possible.

"We've got some tough games coming up in the league. We've got Bolton in the week, which will be tough.

"Looking at the fixtures, they all seem really difficult, but as long as we keep winning and working hard for each other, then the double is possible."

Terry came under fire from Villa boss Martin O'Neill for a second-half challenge on James Milner that led to a yellow card for the Chelsea defender.

An incensed O'Neill claimed: "It was an horrendous challenge on an England team-mate. James Milner is exceptionally lucky his career is intact. It should have been a straight red card.

"It could have been very serious. James is lucky to have got away with it. The fact his leg was in the air helped. I have spoken to the doctor who says he's a very lucky boy."

Terry is understood to have spoken to Milner after the game and Chelsea insist they have no plans to respond to O'Neill's remarks at the present time.

But Terry did have some sympathy with Villa over a first-half penalty appeal that was flatly rejected by referee Howard Webb.

Gabriel Agbonlahor appeared to be wrestled to the ground by Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi but Webb decreed otherwise. However, Terry was convinced that Villa should have been given a spot-kick.

"I think it was a penalty for Villa," he admitted. "I was right there. I would say so. But the game is over. We should have had some penalties earlier in the season and we move on."

Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou revealed how a half-time blast from angry coach Carlo Ancelotti helped give the Blues the boost they needed to go on and win the game.

Chelsea had been lethargic and off the pace in the opening half as Villa dominated the game but Ancelotti let rip during the interval.

"He was saying that we were playing too static and there was not a lot of movement in the front," said Kalou.

"Of course Carlo was angry because that was not the Chelsea that people want to see or the Chelsea we want to be.

"He was angry because of that and every player understood that we had to do better if we wanted to win the game."

Kalou also insists Drogba's opening goal in the 67th minute paved the way for their victory over a side they hammered 7-1 in the league just a fortnight ago.

Kalou came off the bench to help open the game up and the Ivorian believes they will need more impact players if they are to land the coveted double.

"Once we scored the first goal, we had more space to play and more chances to create goals," said Kalou.

"It is important if we want to win the double, which we have people who come off the bench and change games.

"We have never done the double before and it would be good history for the club and the manager. To have the opportunity to do the double as a player is amazing."

Terry: Keep On Running

John Terry paid complement to Aston Villa for making it a tough semi-final but was happy the Chelsea team worked hard enough to make it through to another big Wembley date.

In May the Blues will play in the fourth FA Cup Final of Terry's time in the side (fifth if you include an unused sub appearance at Wembley in 2000) and it is never a thought that fails to excite, especially with the chance that it might complete an historic league and cup double.

'It will be a big occasion coming back to Wembley and we can sit back and relax on Sunday and see who makes it through with us,' said the Chelsea captain after Saturday's 3-0 win.

'We are back at the top of the league and in the FA Cup Final now and winning those is what our sights are on. We've got some tough games, including Bolton on Tuesday which is going to be tough.

'Man United play away to Blackburn on Sunday afternoon which proved a tough game for us, and looking at the fixtures they all seem really difficult but as long as we keep winning and keep working hard for each other, which is what we have been doing, we stand a good chance.

'We are delighted to beat Villa after a sloppy first half,' Terry continued.

'I always said it was going to be very different from two weeks ago when we beat them and Villa pressed us really well and stopped us for playing so first half, we didn't really get out the stalls and we are disappointed with that.

'We got a bit of a rollicking at half time, the manager told us to liven it up, move the ball a bit quicker which is what we intended to do at the start of the game. We didn't but that was down to Villa pressing and working well as a team. We came out second half and played a lot better.'

Terry played a part in the ice-breaking goal when his miscued half-volley found Didier Drogba perfectly positioned to score.

'It was a shot but I told Didier it was a pass because I heard him shout,' Terry smiled, 'but he said he didn't call!

'I would say Villa should have had a penalty first half,' he admitted. 'I was right there but we should have had some earlier in the season. We didn't get them and we moved on, we got a bit of luck this time and in the second half we played a lot better.

'The pitch was quite hard on top and they watered it before the game,' he reported. 'It was in a good condition but a little bit slippery. Studs don't come much bigger than those that centre-halves wear and even we were slipping over.

'We are playing well, the confidence is high,' he reported. 'We have let the lead in the league slip once and we are determined not to let it slip again. It is three years since we won the Premier League and we are really determined to get it back to the Bridge.

'We have seen the last four or five weeks the team working hard from each other and that is the key. The quality has always been there and always will be in the top four or five teams in the Premier League but if we can work hard, win our tackles and do the basics very well then we should be okay. If we can win our games there is nothing anybody else can do.'

Blues Duo Savour Semi Success

John Terry and Didier Drogba have expressed their delight at reaching the final of the FA Cup but will not let it detract from their quest for Premier League glory.

Chelsea overcame Aston Villa 3-0 at Wembley on Saturday thanks to second-half goals from Drogba, Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard.

Terry admits that Villa had applied most of the pressure in the opening 45 minutes and Chelsea needed to improve considerably after the break.

"I thought they pressed us really well and stopped us from playing, but in the first half we didn't really get out the stalls," Terry told Sky Sports News.

"We were disappointed with that but we got a bit of a rollicking at half-time and came out and played much better."

Drogba hopes Chelsea can now go on to defend the trophy they won against Everton 12 months ago.

"We are happy for the fans, to be back here for another cup final," said the Ivory Coast international.

"When you know the joy we had here, it is fantastic."

Both players then looked ahead to the rest of the Premier League campaign, with Chelsea currently two points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United.

Terry said: "It is in our hands and if we win our games there is nothing anyone else can do.

"We are playing well and the confidence is high but we really need to maintain that.

"We have let it slip once and we are determined not to let it slip again."

Drogba added: "We really want to win it. We have the destiny in our hands and nobody can stop us if we win our games."

O'Neill Demanding Terry Apology Over Milner Tackle

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is demanding an apology from John Terry for his X-rated tackle on England team-mate James Milner.

O'Neill is still furious with Terry for the second-half lunge that caught Milner on the calf and led O'Neill to claim it was lucky the midfielder's ''career is still intact''.

Terry has so far not spoken about the incident, although he will probably accept TV replays look fairly damning, even if he did not feel the tackle even merited the yellow card dished out by referee Howard Webb at the time. O'Neill was certainly not happy.

''I would hope there would be an apology sent to the dressing room,'' he said. ''I don't know whether an apology is enough. That would be something for James and John Terry to talk about. But it was desperately poor.

''I am just delighted James is still fit to play because he could have been out for a long time.''

O'Neill's immediate fear was that Milner had suffered an injury that would wreck his hopes of making Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

''James is very fortunate his foot was off the ground,'' said O'Neill. ''Even that itself is not enough to save you all the time. Forget about the result. In two weeks' time it will be forgotten. I just want James to be fit to take his rightful place in the squad to go to South Africa.''

Meanwhile, John Carew has claimed Terry could have broken Milner's leg with his ''dangerous'' tackle.

Carew said: ''I saw the challenge from close range and Terry could have sent his (Milner's) lower leg up into the stands. I've seen people get red cards for less. That was a really dangerous tackle.

''There are a lot of tackles that can break legs which are not really that dangerous. But that one was very dangerous because he launched in with straight legs. It would have broken it.''

Abramovich Stalls On Spending, Damaging Chelsea's Transfer Plans

According to The People, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has refused to sanction any transfers or contract agreements until the end of the season, throwing the Blues' plans into chaos.

The People quotes a Chelsea insider, who said, "Roman is unhappy about the amount of money Chelsea have been paying in both deals and wages - he thinks he has spent far too much. Now he wants to let everything cool down before he decides what to spend."

The decision to shelve contract talks for now leaves Joe Cole in the dark over his future. The England midfielder is reportedly keen to stay at Stamford Bridge, but has no idea what Chelsea can offer him and is therefore reluctant to look elsewhere.

In addition, given that Chelsea chiefs have no idea what transfer budget may be available over the summer, they are unable to pursue players such as Benfica winger Angel Di Maria, who Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen watched at Anfield last week.

In contrast, Real Madrid is in a position to agree to Benfica's £23million asking price for 22 year-old Di Maria immediately.