Why Impassive Ancelotti Stays Focused On Future With Chelsea

The word Carlo Ancelotti will use repeatedly this week at Chelsea’s plush training ground will be “focus”.

He will not allow his players to wallow in the satisfaction of a significant job well done at Old Trafford.

Instead, he will demand they keep the next assignment – the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa – sharply defined in their minds.

Ancelotti’s insistence on not dwelling on what has happened has made a great impact in the past two weeks.

The Champions League defeat by Inter Milan and a frustrating draw at Blackburn seemed to have derailed Chelsea’s season, but Ancelotti explained: “After a defeat you don’t have to lose confidence in your players and you don’t look behind. It is better to look forward.”

After thumping 12 goals against Portsmouth and Villa and completing a Premier League double over Manchester United, Chelsea can certainly look forward with renewed confidence. Matches against United do tend to provide landmarks for Chelsea coaches.

Avram Grant took over three days before a defeat at Old Trafford and was sacked three days after losing the Champions League final to United on penalties.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s brief stay became untenable because of a 3-0 thrashing at Old Trafford, and Ancelotti’s reign began with a Community Shield victory over United at Wembley.

The latest victory over the crestfallen Ferguson was thoroughly merited, and should prove instructive to those, including some inside the Chelsea camp, who were swift to condemn Ancelotti a fortnight ago.

His understated touchline style – slouching slightly with hands in pockets, face mostly impassive – contrasted with the theatrical posturing of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho while he presided over Inter’s win.

Ancelotti was equally undemonstrative during the draw at Ewood Park, and many concluded the Italian was helpless and hopeless.

But he does his work on the training pitches and in team meetings. Once the game kicks off, he views events with the stoicism learnt during a long and hugely successful career as a player and coach.

At Old Trafford on Saturday he allowed himself an instinctive, restrained celebration when each of Chelsea’s goals went in.

His hands came out of his trouser pockets long enough for both fists to clench and he let out an involuntary yell of exultation. But he was soon calm again – and focused.

The big tactical decision was not dropping Didier Drogba to use Nicolas Anelka as a lone central striker – it was the formation itself which showed Ancelotti’s mind at work. Mourinho initially played 4-3-3, with two dynamic wingers hugging the touchlines and Drogba ploughing a solitary furrow in the middle.

When Anelka arrived, he and Drogba could not both be comfortably accommodated in that system, nor in the 4-1-4-1 Scolari favoured.

Guus Hiddink used Drogba and Anelka together in attack, either with Anelka as a wide man or with both playing centrally ahead of a heavily populated midfield and Ancelotti has often done the same.

But Ancelotti’s approach has been more flexible than any recent predecessors at Chelsea. He has deployed a midfield diamond (4-1-2-1-2), a Christmas tree (4-3-2-1) and a narrow 4-2-2-2, in which the width was provided by two adventurous full-backs.

Yet on Saturday Ancelotti opted for 4-3-3. The increasingly impressive Florent Malouda and the revitalised Joe Cole, who combined for the first goal, were the wide players in the front three, with both tracking back when necessary.

Just as importantly, Chelsea’s system allowed Frank Lampard and Deco to do whatever occurred to them in midfield, rather than being stifled by rigid roles. And Lampard, in particular, was outstanding.

Anelka started as the only central striker, but Drogba replaced him for the last 20 minutes and scored a blatantly offside goal nine minutes later.

But then Federico Macheda’s goal after 81 minutes was possibly handball and only emphasised how insipid their attack had been until he joined it as a substitute.

Dimitar Berbatov is simply not an adequate replacement for Wayne Rooney.

Yet it would be folly to write off United’s season, just as it was barmy to deride Ancelotti two weeks ago.

John Obi Mikel: I Would Happily Sacrifice The FA Cup For Premier League Glory

Midfielder John Obi Mikel believes only winning the Premier League title will make the season a success for Chelsea.

The Blue are still in the league and FA Cup mix as the season reaches its conclusion, but after a disappointing Champions League exit against Inter Milan in March the 22-year-old believes the squad have one clear priority.

“I've won the FA Cup twice and I think if I win the Premier League I will be happier,” Mikel told the Evening Standard.

“We are disappointed with how we went out to Inter, but that's behind us now and we've got to focus on winning the Premier League. That's just as important a trophy."

After a crucial 2-1 victory against Manchester United last Saturday, the Blues are two points ahead of their rivals in the table with just five games remaining. And the Nigerian is confident the squad are capable of finishing the job.

“We're still in the race for the title and I think the belief is there," he said.

"We've got the right mentality, everything seems to be in place, so it's up to us to keep it going.”

Didier Drogba Delighted To See Chelsea Team-Mate Florent Malouda Picking Up Plaudits

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is pleased at the way in which team-mate Florent Malouda has won over the critics this season at Stamford Bridge.

The French winger played a key role in the Blues' weekend win over Manchester United, crossing for Joe Cole's opener and maintaining his fine recent form.

Drogba, a team-mate of Malouda's at Guingamp seven years ago, feels that his coleague is at last receiving the recognition his talent deserves.

"Everybody recognises his talent now," Drogba told the Blues' official website.

"It has been difficult for him to change leagues and also he had quite a few injuries at first but every time he has played this season he was good.

"He is not the type of player who will do many skills but he is really efficient, with simple touches, passes, assists, and he is clever.

"He reads the game well and that is the kind of player we need in our squad."

Malouda: Fast Out The Block

Florent Malouda's impact on the season continues unabated and the creator of the first goal against Manchester United adds to the match analysis by discussing the strategy at the start of the game.

The left winger's strong run, shrugging off challenges from Antonio Valencia and Darren Fletcher before he crossed for Joe Cole's crafty finish, was the culmination of 20 minutes of good possession football by the visitors, but it was possession football played at a high tempo as Malouda explains:

'When a team is playing in a Champions League game it gives a lot of energy. That is why we started the game against Manchester United quickly because we knew that if we played with high intensity, they could have some problems having played midweek.

'We tried to control the game when we had the ball and with the runs and the problems we caused them, I think they were more tired than us in the first half.

'It was more difficult in the second half,' he admits. 'It was a really tough game but we played really well and for us it means a lot after the bad week we had 10 days ago. We reacted in the best way.

'After the game everybody was really tired but if we can play the same way until the end of the season there will be no problem.'

It has been unusual for Malouda not to be looking for Didier Drogba's runs inside and ahead of him at the start of the past two games. He was not surprised to see the big striker make an instant impact when he was eventually called from the bench.

'Didier reacted in the perfect way,' Malouda says. 'We have a strong squad and we know we are at the top because we have scored a lot of goals with and without Didier. Last week we won against Villa so the manager gave starts to the same team and Didier fully understands that.'

Malouda and Drogba have known each other well since they were team-mates at Guingamp seven years ago and Drogba is delighted England is seeing the football from Malouda that gave him such a big reputation in France.

'Everybody recognises his talent now,' Drogba says. 'It has been difficult for him to change leagues and also he had quite a few injuries at first but every time he has played this season he was good.

'He is not the type of player who will do many skills but he is really efficient, with simple touches, passes, assists, and he is clever. He reads the game well and that is the kind of player we need in our squad.'

Zhirkov: It's Not Over Yet

Yuri Zhirkov insists it is 'far too early' for Chelsea to believe they will be Premier League champions after returning to the top of the table.

Chelsea's impressive 2-1 win at Manchester United at the weekend lifted Carlo Ancelotti's side two points clear of their title rivals with five games left to play.

The Blues are now favourites to be crowned champions for the first time since 2006, but Zhirkov is not taking success for granted.

With tricky away games against Tottenham and Liverpool on the horizon, Russian full-back Zhirkov is aware there is still work to do for Chelsea to beat United and Arsenal to the top-flight crown.

"It is far too early to become deluded," said Zhirkov in The Sun. "The champion's race continues.

"We have some hard games ahead - particularly those against Liverpool and Tottenham. We are determined to win our remaining games."

Zhirkov was also critical of Antonio Valencia's tactics during his battle with the United winger at Old Trafford.

He said: "He is a very strong player, but uses his hands too often. He kept tugging and pushing me."

Chelsea Eye Fresh £45m Bid For Unsettled AC Milan Striker Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato is mulling over his future at AC Milan as Chelsea and Real Madrid consider a move for the Brazil striker.

The 20-year-old resisted £45million interest from Stamford Bridge last summer and insisted he was happy at the San Siro, but a disappointing season for both him and Leonardo's side has changed the landscape.

Pato is reportedly ready to ditch his agent Gilmar Veloz and could turn to Mino Raiola, the Italian who last summer secured lucrative moves to Barcelona for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maxwell.

'Real Madrid and Chelsea are following the player (Pato),' said Raiola. 'Obviously his transfer is not certain, but the guy is unhappy with the situation at Milan, where they won't win a title this year.'

Milan are only three points behind leaders Inter with six games to play in Serie A, but few would back the inconsistent side to win their first championship since 2004.

The Italian giants are considering a number of changes, which could lead to the departures of coach Leonardo and fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho, followed by the reconfiguration of their attack.

Milan could be priced out of a move for Chelsea and Manchester City target Edin Dzeko, but are interested in Anderlecht wonderkid Romelu Lukaku and Stuttgart striker Cacau, who is wanted by Blackburn.

Reports in Spain suggest Milan could use Madrid's interest in Pato to go for a swap deal with France striker Karim Benzema, who has struggled since a summer move from Lyon.

Pato is one of the brightest young talents in world football, but an injury-interrupted season has seen his form and star fall at the San Siro.

Nonetheless, he was voted 2009 Young Player of the Year for Serie A and has notched 14 goals in 25 games this season.

Raiola may have his own agenda for pushing Pato out of Milan. The agent also represents Italy Under 21 striker Mario Balotelli, who has been tipped to leave Inter for their city rivals after falling out with Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea Youngsters Bruma & Van Aanholt Tipped To Make Dutch World Cup Squad

Reports in Holland today have claimed that Chelsea’s highly-rated pair of young defenders, Jeffrey Bruma and Patrick van Aanholt , could be heading to the World Cup in South Africa.

Despite the fact Bruma and van Aanholt have yet to establish themselves in Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea first team, they could be heading to the World Cup to gain experience.

Holland’s official preparation for the World Cup begins on May 6 and Bert van Marwijk is planning to call up players to try out in the friendlies in the lead up to South Africa.

Jeffrey Bruma has made two substitute appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.

Patrick van Aanholt has had spells at Coventry and Newcastle on loan this season and has also made two substitute Premier League appearances for Chelsea in 2009/2010.

Ron Harris Still Making His Presence Felt At Stamford Bridge

It is the day after a Champions League encounter in which Manchester United's Nani has worn a pair of boots that can only be described as lilac-coloured, with peach detailing.

So it seems only appropriate to ask Ron Harris, the man universally known as Chopper, if he had ever worn boots of that nature during his 21-year career at Chelsea.

The full-back whose uncompromising muscularity was a feature of the Blues' back line for a record 795 games, narrows his eyes and shoots his questioner the sort of look that must have persuaded many a winger in the Seventies that getting on the wrong side of Chopper was really not a good idea.

"What do you think?" he growls. "Looking at them boots they wear today and them gloves and all that, I think, 'Blimey football: it used to be a man's game, didn't it?' And don't get me started on tackling. I mean, this law about sending off someone if they show their studs in the tackle. Excuse me, if you slide in how are you not going to show your studs? It's not physically possible."

Ron Harris is exactly as you might hope him to be. While other sportsmen have a persona that is mere construct, Harris remains Chopper still: unwavering, tougher than teak, no more likely to shirk a question than he would a challenge. Plus, as he proves while taking The Daily Telegraph round his old haunts at Stamford Bridge, immensely good value.

He is giving us a sampler of a special, sold-out Legends Tour he is conducting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of when he became the first Chelsea captain to lift the FA Cup in 1970.

"I know, 40 years where did it go?" he says, as we sit in the Shed End. "Met a fella from Norway the other day and he said he'd seen me lift the Cup when he was only eight. And I looked at him, saw this middle-aged fella looking back at me and I thought: no disrespect or anything, but how could that be possible? How did he get that old in that time? Because honestly, when I sit down and talk about it, it seems like yesterday."

In truth, as Ron stands alongside the picture of himself in his heyday which is displayed on the wall at the back of the Shed, you can see his point: it does not seem 40 years since he was lifting the Cup. A pound or two heavier, maybe, but he appears to be much as he was then: the gap-toothed smile, the neat mod hair, the thousand-yard stare. And a forthrightness that would have a modern football club press office reaching for the smelling salts.

"People always ask me if I'm envious of the money they earn today and tell you what, I am," he says. "Most I ever earned was £295 a week here. I still have to work for my living and there's no way most of these fellas will have to work into their old age. Fair play, some of them deserve the money.

"But I was watching West Ham here the other day and I tell you what, they was an absolute disgrace. Poor old Bobby Moore would have turned in his grave if he'd had to watch that. Some of them fellas earning £40,000-50,000 a week, I'd have been embarrassed to pick up my wages if I played like that. In all honesty, I'd have done a much better job than either of their full-backs. And I'm 65."

It is not just the players' wages that have changed at Stamford Bridge. When Ron first played there, most of the place was open terraces and the North Stand was so rickety it would shake when the tube trains went past. Now there are hotels, fine-dining destinations, leather seats in the dugouts. Plus, in the corporate hospitality zone, there is the Ron Harris Suite.

"They look after the old players here," he says. "And I'd do anything for the club. Twenty-one years I was here and I owe them everything. Whenever they ask me to do something I'm here on time. I've never been late for anything in my life. Except the odd tackle."

It hasn't always been like that, however. "Nah, under Roman Abramovich it all changed for the good," he says. "Before that, under the previous regime, we old-timers never got the time of day. I'm not going to mention the fella in charge by name, but he's chairman of Leeds now."

Leeds: rarely can the word be invested with the venom it is by Harris. For him, they were the true enemy.

"There was no love lost," he smiles. "I reckon if Leeds played here now, there'd still be that feeling, that rivalry. It's your classic north v south, basically. Actually, in all honesty, you look at their side in my day and they didn't win what they deserved. They were a good side. Don't know why, but there seemed to be something about them that failed at the final hurdle. And I guess we were part of that in 1970."

The two clubs met in the final at Wembley that year as early as April 11, the date brought forward to allow England time to prepare to defend the World Cup in Mexico. The first game was a draw, played on a terrible surface cut to pieces by the Horse of the Year Show. It was not an encounter which helped relations between the two rivals: the tackles were eye-watering. By the time of the replay at Old Trafford a fortnight later, Chelsea had a game plan.

"Eddie Gray had given Dave Webb a real chasing at Wembley," says Harris. "So for the replay, we swapped flanks and I took Gray. Dave [Sexton, the manager] had a word with me before the game and said, 'If you get half a chance to rough Gray up a little, take it'. I took it after all of eight minutes. Thought that was nice of me to give him eight minutes."

That final represented a clash of philosophies: paranoid Don Revie's brusque Yorkshiremen against the flash cockney swagger of the King's Road wide boys.

"Yeah, this was the centre of the universe in the Sixties," Harris says. "Or at least it felt like it. When I first joined, in the players' lounge there was people like Arthur Askey. Then Dickie Attenborough got involved and he started bringing the film stars down, Steve McQueen, Raquel Welch. Everyone wanted to be seen here. Don't suppose you got that at Leeds."

But if Chelsea represented the swish of trendy London, there was nothing soft about them. Especially not their captain.

"In them days, every team had their kicker. There was Norman Hunter at Leeds, Nobby Stiles at Man United, Peter Storey at Arsenal. And me at Chelsea. Funnily enough I never come across any of the others on the pitch. We tended to stick to our own halves, so we didn't usually meet.

"I remember Ossie [Peter Osgood] getting the hump with me once. We're in the tunnel lining up before a game against Leeds and I'd been giving it verbals, winding up Norman or someone. Ossie says to me 'It's all very well you giving it all that, it's me they end up taking it out on'."

If he was angry, the animosity did not last long: Osgood, who died in 2006, was always Harris's best mate in the Chelsea team. "I miss Ossie," he says. "What a gent. At his funeral, all the lads were there and, I know it was a sad day, but we had such a laugh. Just remembering the strokes Ossie used to pull. You wouldn't believe it what that lad got up to. You could never ever do that now."

It was Osgood whose diving header of an equaliser put Chelsea on course for victory in the Cup final replay. "We were a little fortunate to get out of jail in the first game, even in the replay we were 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go. But once Ossie equalised, you could see in their eyes they'd gone. You could see them think, 'Here we go again'. Our lads sensed it was only a matter of time. And when Webby scored, I kind of knew it was our destiny."

Receiving the Cup, Harris says, is without question his finest moment. "Mind, I'm not knocking anything to do with Manchester United, it was at Old Trafford and not Wembley," he says. "You dream of climbing them 39 steps to lift the Cup, and I didn't get the chance. We received the Cup on the pitch. Still, what a memory. Old Trafford was always a happy hunting ground for Chelsea. Still is."

The following season, having already become the first Chelsea captain to lift the FA Cup, Harris became the first to lift a European trophy when his side beat Real Madrid to secure the Cup-Winners' Cup (also after a replay). But after that the team were broken up as the club faced financial freefall following the building of the East Stand. Harris was the only one to survive, staying at Stamford Bridge until 1980. Now it is as if he has never been away.

As we complete the tour in a dressing room which, with its acres of polished wood and shelves groaning with male grooming items, has changed somewhat since Harris's days of a big communal bath and a couple of pegs to hang the suit, it leaves us with just one question: does he ever mind the nickname? Descriptive it might be, but it hardly betokens him as a player of panache and skill, does it?

"It's done me proud, has my nickname," he says. "And I tell you what, the ladies like it. That's the first thing they say: 'why did they call you Chopper?'"

And what does he say?

"Nothing. I just smile."

Drogba Eyes Special Triumph

Didier Drogba has set his sights on winning a Premier League title that would feel even more special than the 2006 triumph.

Manchester United have lifted the trophy for three successive seasons since Chelsea last finished top of the table.

Both teams are in the hunt this term, along with Arsenal, but it is the Blues who currently lead the way after winning 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Chelsea still have five games to try and win before they can start celebrating but Drogba is determined to see the job through.

"It would mean more for us to win the league now having waited four years to win it back again," explained the striker.

"There are still five games to go and a lot of things can happen. But we're going to do everything to stay there and win this league."

Drogba came off the substitutes' bench to score Chelsea's second against Manchester United and he is delighted to have played a part in such an important victory.

"We're proud of what we did, the desire was so good. This was a very big result and we showed we are a good team and deserved to win.

"But we know we're not there yet. All I know is we want to win it a lot, to prove to people the team we are.

"I've always believed we could do it even though we lost points last month.

"We have some important games coming but we are more determined now."

Drogba concedes that Chelsea's elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Inter Milan in the last 16 might have given them an advantage over their title rivals in the league.

"Going out of the Champions League was not a nice feeling but it helps when you're out to win the league because there are so many games. It means you can stay fresh," he said.

"To come to United thinking we were going to win shows we're determined to take this title. We really want it."

Cole: Whoever Plays We Look Good

Fresh from scoring his first goal in four months it was a happy Joe Cole who spoke after the big win at Old Trafford.

The England international was one of the beneficiaries of Carlo Ancelotti's decisions to keep with the side that had done so well against Aston Villa the previous match and didn't disappoint. He will be hoping that an influential display that paid off his manager's faith and helped send Chelsea back to the top of the league also alerted Fabio Capello to his return to form, especially now an injury to David Beckham has cut the number of experienced options who can play wide on the right.

'You can't talk your way into the England squad,' Cole pointed out after Saturday's 2-1 win, 'but if I am playing regularly for a team fighting for the championship I will have every chance. But my main focus now is Chelsea. It is very important that this club gets back to the summit and I will fight every minute I can to win the league. I felt better on Saturday than I did last week and I am sure next week I will feel even better.

'It has been an up and down season for me,' he admitted.

'Coming back from an injury you need continuous games to get that match sharpness which I haven't had, but I got back into the side against Villa and I just need to do it consistently now to the end of the season.

'When I was coming back from injury I had a good run of games when the boys were away at the African Nations Cup and I felt I was getting my old sharpness back and I was creating goals. Then I picked up a little niggle, lost my place and when you are at a big club you are going to have to fight to get it back, so I have just been working hard. I hope I can keep my place now but the main thing is that Chelsea keep winning.'

Cole described Ancelotti's naming of an unchanged side that meant leaving top scorer Didier Drogba on the bench as a 'bold' move, but one that paid off with Nicolas Anelka's counter-attacking pace a concern for the home side when they pressed forward and Drogba fresh to make an impact late in the game. He also saw an altered formation working well.

'I enjoy playing on the right-hand side and we changed the system in January and things went really well, and now we have also changed the system in the last three games and things have gone really well, but it is more to do with how the boys are focused now and we are looking really good whoever comes into this team.

'You can't come to Old Trafford and play open football, you have to defend well from the front man right through to the goalkeeper.

'It was a tough game, playing against [Patrice] Evra who is one of the best left backs in the world, and we did a lot of defending, especially in the second half, but we were organised and did a good job as a team.

'It puts it back in our own hands which is where we wanted it. Of the five league games left, three are at home and there are some really tough away games. Try to win them is all we can do.'

AC Milan's Dropped Interest In Wolfsburg Striker Edin Dzeko Paves Way For Move To Chelsea

Milan are ready to drop their interest in hotly pursued Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, with the striker now looking likely to join either Chelsea in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.

The 24-year-old expressed his desire to move to Milan last summer but the Italian giants could not meet his asking price and instead captured striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Dutchman's recent good form, which has seen him score six goals since the winter break, has reportedly convinced the Italian side they do not recquire the services of Bosnian Dzeko, who is valued at £25 million.

Huntelaar scored in Milan's 3-2 win at Cagliari, prompting AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida to say: "Huntelaar is perfect. He scores and no one can kick like he does, so why should we sell him?"

The asking price is also out of the Serie A giant's price range, but not a problem for interested parties Chelsea and Manchester City.

Furthermore, Dzeko has attempted to distance himself from a move to Milan in recent weeks by inviting interest from elsewhere.

"I never said that I absolutely want Italy," he said, as quoted in the Mail.

"If the right offer comes in then I will say yes."

Chelsea are reportedly looking to strengthen their aging front-line, while City are not convinced with targetman Roque Santa Cruz and need an alternative to Emmanuel Adebayor up front.

Carlo Ancelotti Expects Joe Cole To Sign A New Contract At Chelsea

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is in no doubt that Joe Cole will sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

The England midfielder could leave the west London club on a free transfer in the summer, as his current deal expires at the end of the season. Negotiations are ongoing regarding a new contract, but have yet to yield any positive results.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti is in little doubt that Cole will still be a Chelsea player next season.

"Joe Cole has the same focus as the rest of the team. He wants to play well and wants to win the title," the Italian told reporters after Cole scored in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League victory against Manchester United.

"For him, there is also a desire to go to the World Cup and if he carries on like he did here he will be there.

"Now he has some consistency in his game and that is good for him."

The Italian revealed that it is only financial details holding up the agreement of a new deal, with the club reportedly unwilling to match Cole's desired wage rise from £80,000-a-week to around £100,000. But Ancelotti, who has told the club he wants the midfielder to stay, is certain that will all be sorted in the near future.

"He will definitely sign a new contract. There is no problem, don't worry," he said.

"I've spoken a lot about Joe Cole with my club and everyone has a desire for him to stay at Chelsea and so does he.

"There is not a problem, it is an economical problem nothing else."

Yury Zhirkov Blasts Manchester United's Antonio Valencia, Claims Blues Deserved Win At Old Trafford

Chelsea winger Yury Zhirkov has accused Antonio Valencia of underhand tactics during the Blues' 2-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday.

Zhirkov, who can play as either a winger or a full-back, analysed his side's win over their Premier League rivals at Old Trafford and believes the Blues fully merited their vital victory.

"Without doubt, we created more chances and deserved to win," Zhirkov told Russian newspaper Bobsoccer.

"Manchester United tried very hard because they understand how important the outcome of this match was.

"I played on the left of defense, with hopes of connecting to the attack, but it turned out that I spent almost all the time in defence.

"United tried to put pressure on our goal, but we passed the test with flying colors."

The Russian international's deployment as a full-back during the clash saw him lock horns with the United winger Antonio Valencia, who he believes got away with fouling him throughout the match.

"He's a strong player, without doubt, but all too often he plays with his hands," said the £18 million summer signing from CSKA Moscow.

"He constantly grabbed me, pushed me, particularly when taking the ball back towards goal. The referee, unfortunately, didn't always stop his antics."

Chelsea are now in pole position to win the Premier League title, as the result on Saturday saw them leapfrog two points ahead of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

"Everything now depends on us," Zhirkov said.

"This is an important victory, but we shouldn't be under any illusions.

"By and large, the title race has only just begun. Ahead of us are difficult matches, particularly against Liverpool and Tottenham.

"We're determined to win all our remaining matches and, also, gradually our injured players are returning."

Paulo Ferreira's Freshness Kept Ryan Giggs Pinned Back

The impressive Portuguese full-back was at the heart of Chelsea's dominance against a jaded Manchester United.

Selection and Shape

Chelsea, with no midweek game in Europe, would have gained valuable recovery time for any knocks to clear and Carlo Ancelotti retained the same line-up for the first time this season after the thrashing of Aston Villa. That restricted Didier Drogba to the bench and allowed Nicolas Anelka to roam in isolation up front, though it was no surprise that the busier Deco was preferred to the stronger yet more pedestrian Michael Ballack. John Terry and Alex would have been delighted by the absence of Wayne Rooney but wary of the threat of Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs from wide. Preventing Manchester United's wingers from getting in behind Yuri Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira was key to Chelsea's defensive approach.

Tactics and Teamwork

Chelsea began the game in aggressive fashion and set the pace, imposing their game-plan on their hosts. Zhirkov and Ferreira got extra tight to United's wide players and ran them back, forcing them to defend at every opportunity. They went forward with confidence as Chelsea clamped down on midfield, squeezing the play and suffocating United's rhythm. Darren Fletcher was choked by Frank Lampard's presence and Paul Scholes, so important for United, was unable to find Giggs in the first period. Giggs seemed marooned near the touchline, desperate for some service, and constantly having to check Ferreira's runs on the outside. Dimitar Berbatov, marked by Terry, needed closer support but Park Ji-sung was drifting centrally and not troubling Mikel John Obi. The Nigerian was rarely pulled out of position. Terry pushed his full-backs tight and, with Joe Cole dancing down the right and Florent Malouda working slightly narrower on the left, the visitors imposed themselves on a jaded United. Gary Neville and Patrice Evra were fully occupied. Ancelotti would have been happy at half-time: Chelsea had played like the home team, on the front foot, with Petr Cech a smiling spectator.

Did they succeed?

Ultimately, yes. Although United responded by playing their back four further forward after the break, Chelsea's determination rarely wavered. Scholes and Fletcher worked harder to find some spacedid find space, and Giggs moved further in-field, which gave more muscle to the United midfield and Evra, more importantly, the opportunity to charge into the space vacated by the veteranforward. But Chelsea increasingly held their full-backs, Ferreira and Zhirkov checking their first-half ambition and, sitting on their lead, the visitors grafted with little space between their back-line and front. The manager used his substitutions well – hard-working forwards Joe Cole and Anelka were replaced by fresh legs and real threats in Drogba and Salomon Kalou – though there was no need to change the system. Although United had more of the ball in the second period, without the individual threat of Rooney they were unable to get goal-side of a well-organised Chelsea team. Berbatov had a couple of free sights at goal but United lacked a spark after a demanding week, while Chelsea, fresher and playing with more confidence, ended deserved winners.

Didier Drogba 'Frustrated' By Substitute Role Against Manchester United

Didier Drogba spoke of his frustration at failing to make the starting line-up against Manchester United and it is an emotion he may have to get used to from now until the end of the season.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti appears to have accepted that fitting Drogba – Saturday’s match-winner – and Nicolas Anelka into the same team does not enhance the prospects of victory and will use the former’s injury concerns, with a knee problem and a pending hernia operation, to rotate the pair.

The irrepressible form of Florent Malouda and Joe Cole’s improving displays have strengthened the manager’s hand, inevitably reverting to a variation of Chelsea’s familiar 4-3-3, but he will have to be careful not to alienate Drogba, in particular, as Luiz Felipe Scolari found to his cost.

Not that the Ivorian is complaining. “I was frustrated not to start but the manager has played this team before [against Aston Villa the previous weekend] and I think he knows how to do it,” he said. “It was a good decision because I went on and scored.”

Drogba may not have felt the same had he not registered his 25th league goal of the campaign — albeit from an offside position — and also his first in the league against United. “Maybe you don’t need to score a lot, just the important goals, and maybe this one was one of those goals,” he said, his other against United being the only goal in the 2007 FA Cup final. It will be fascinating to see whether he starts this Saturday’s semi-final against Villa.

It is regaining the league title, rather than retaining the cup, that matters most to Chelsea, however. “I think it would mean more for us to do it now having waited for three years to win it back again,” Drogba said. “All I know is that we want to win it a lot, to prove to people the team we are.” There was, he admitted, also added annoyance at Chelsea’s recent results.

“We had the frustration of losing points we should not have dropped in the last month,” Drogba said.

There was some kidology in Ancelotti’s decision not to begin with Drogba, having indicated it was unthinkable not to use the 32 year-old. That had been taken to mean a place in the starting XI but, in the event, it meant not to use him at all in the match. “I decided to keep him on the bench to use him during the match,” Ancelotti said. Drogba was the ultimate impact substitute while Anelka’s greater mobility, linking with Cole and, in particular, Malouda, and creating space for the pair, was effective against United’s tired limbs.

Drogba also spoke of his own fitness concerns which may be a worry to the new, watching Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with the World Cup so close. “I’ve got some difficult moments but it’s a long season with a lot of games and I’m OK,” Drogba said. “I will do everything I can to keep playing. I don’t know yet if I’ll have to have a (hernia) operation. I have to decide with the manager of Chelsea and the manager of the Ivory Coast.”

Andy Gray: Ancelotti Is Manager Of The Year

Over the next few weeks, the voting will take place for the League Manager's Association and Barclays Premier League Manager of the Year awards, and it's worth thinking about who is in contention to win them.

The latter should be pretty straightforward. Only once has the award not been handed out to the manager who won the Premier League title that season, back in 2000-1 when George Burley guided his newly-promoted Ipswich Town side to fifth place in the league and (as it then was), a UEFA Cup spot.

Following on from that, it's safe to assume that one of Carlo Ancelotti, Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger will be using that particular trophy to decorate their mantelpiece. With Chelsea two points clear of Man Utd and three of Arsenal with just five games to and trading at 1.6 on Betfair for the title, the engravers are surely already checking the correct spelling of Carlo Ancelotti.

The League Manager's Association award is more likely to go to a manager whose team have exceeded expectations and over-performed given the strength of their team, rather than actually winning the title.

That's why David Moyes has won this award on no less than three occasions since joining Everton, despite never coming close to winning the title. He's unlikely to be winning it again this year with a seventh place finish in the league the best he can realistically hope for and no real success in any of the three Cups his side were in. The way I see it there are three strong candidates, though a lot obviously depends on what happens between now and the end of the season.

The first guy I feel is in with a shout is Roy Hodgson. Two years ago to the day Fulham were heading for The Championship and needed a late Danny Murphy goal at Portsmouth on the last day of the season to avoid the drop.

Now they're sitting pretty in mid-table whilst taking out the likes of former UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk and former Champions League winners Juventus in the Europa League. If they went all the way, Roy would be a strong candidate for the award.

As would Harry Redknapp, though I feel he'd either need to finish fourth in the league or go on and win the FA Cup to really make a case for being given the award. I also like the credentials of Alex McLeish.

Having recruited experience campaigners such as Lee Bowyer, Barry Ferguson and Kevin Phillips rather than investing heavily in terms of transfer fees, he's guided Birmingham City to the dizzy heights of ninth, when many would have thought they'd be scrapping to avoid a swift return to The Championship, having just been promoted.

My vote would be on one of these three, though if Carlo Ancelotti won the title in his first season in English football, I'm not sure many could say he didn't deserve it.

Sir Alex has once again done a remarkable job this season when you consider he lost two of his most important assets in Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez last summer, and if he somehow managed to go on and win the Champions League, he'd certainly be in with a shout.

Euro Exit Aids Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea's exit from the UEFA Champions League may have been a blessing in disguise.

The Blues slipped out of Europe's premier club competition at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

Few at the time welcomed the stumble at the last-16 stage, but have since realised that it could play into their hands.

Having enjoyed a midweek free of continental competition in the build-up to their vital top of the table meeting with Manchester United on Saturday, Chelsea were able to make their fresh legs count.

A 2-1 win at Old Trafford returned them to the Premier League summit, opening up a two-point gap on the Red Devils and a three-point cushion on Arsenal.

Ancelotti accepts that, with the Gunners also still in the Champions League, his side appear to hold the upper hand heading into the final throes of the season and hopes they can make the most of the opportunity put in front of them.

"Maybe it is an advantage not to play in the Champions League," said the Italian coach.

"It is important to be able to train during the week.

"It is important at this moment of the season because it is very busy for the teams who are in the Champions League. We have to take advantage of it."

Rest Provides Tonic For Chelsea Against United, Says Florent Malouda

According to Florent Malouda, who engineered the opening goal, Chelsea came to Old Trafford with a plan. "We knew we would be fresher than United, we didn't have a game in midweek," the French winger said. "That's why we started the game so quickly. We knew if we kept at a high intensity they would have some problems, and that's how it worked out."

Sir Alex Ferguson said beforehand that United were used to playing two games in a week and extra rest would not necessarily work to Chelsea's advantage, though Carlo Ancelotti's post-match summary appeared nearer the mark. "Of course we were fresher than United," the Chelsea manager said. "When you play a Champions League game you lose a lot of energy."

Ferguson accepted as much in the end and admitted his players looked leggy in the first half, yet he surely contributed to the effect by giving his ageing trio of treble veterans their third game in a week. It was one thing to select Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs against Bolton last Saturday, and another to involve them to varying degrees against Bayern Munich, 11 years after the Camp Nou event, but to start the trio again in a title-decider against Chelsea smacked of either loyalty, or United's resources, being stretched too far.

After confessing he possibly blundered in Germany by playing Park Ji-sung instead of Antonio Valencia, Ferguson came to the mystifying conclusion that the Korean was worth a try in the centre of midfield here, with Giggs returned to his old left-wing beat and Nani left on the bench. It was scarcely a success, with both Park and Giggs anonymous and Nani having to come on to create United's goal before the end, though at least the pair avoided being booked for failing to keep up with the pace of the game, which is effectively what happened to Scholes and Neville.

Scholes had an off-day with his distribution, repeatedly hitting overoptimistic passes no winger could hope to reach. In addition to a foul on Malouda that earned him his caution, Neville was out of position when the winger came down the right to set up Joe Cole's early goal. Wayne Rooney may be injured, though Ferguson had younger alternatives on the bench in Rafael da Silva, Michael Carrick and Darron Gibson. While it is no secret the Scot values experience in big games, here he appeared to overdose on it. Chelsea, the side he politely suggested last season were not getting any younger, were the ones to take advantage. It would appear United are not getting any younger, either, and, though it would not be the first time they have suffered through taking on Europe as well as the rest of the Premier League, this may be the first self-inflicted setback.

It remains remarkable that United are still getting service from three players in their mid-30s who have been with the same club all their careers. It would be more remarkable still, beyond even Camp Nou improbability, for the old guard to save United's season now. Ferguson has not only been blessed with a golden generation; he can be congratulated, as can the players, on extracting full value from it. But nothing lasts forever.

Joe Cole Puts World Cup 2010 Dream On Hold

Joe Cole is putting his World Cup dream to one side in order to concentrate on making Chelsea champions again.

Cole has endured a difficult time since returning from cruciate surgery in September and was left out of Fabio Capello's squad for the recent friendly win over Egypt at Wembley.

"You cannot talk your way into the England squad," Cole told www.bbc.co.uk after scoring Chelsea's opening goal in their 2-1 win at Manchester United. "If I am playing regularly in a team fighting to be champions I will have every chance. But my main focus now is Chelsea."

He added: "It is very important this club gets back to the summit of English football. I want to be part of the team that becomes champions again."

Cole admits he has found it hard to hold down a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's side.

The fierce competition for places at Stamford Bridge meant easing himself back to form was not an option and as the season dragged on, it seemed Ancelotti was determined to keep both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in his starting line-up.

A minor injury that kept Drogba out of the Villa game gave Cole his chance and it would be a brave man who altered the formation again given how close Chelsea are to reclaiming a crown they last won under Jose Mourinho in 2006.

"It is not down to me to pick the team," said Cole. "But I enjoy playing on that right side.

"We changed the system in January and things went really well. We also changed the system in the last three games and the same thing has happened.

"I never lost belief in myself and there is no doubting what I can do. I just needed a run of games."

Ferguson On Didier Drogba Winner

Sir Alex Ferguson blasted blunder linesman Simon Beck for allowing Didier Drogba to score a blatant offside winner at Old Trafford.

The angry Man United boss hit out after his Premier League champions were knocked off the top by Chelsea's Didier Drogba.

Alex Ferguson blasted: “What I can’t understand is that the linesman is directly in front of it.

“There is nobody near him. Not a soul in front of him. He sees it and he gets it wrong.
‘‘With a game of this magnitude you need quality officials.

“We didn’t get them I’m afraid. It was a poor, poor performance. And when I saw that Mike Dean was the referee I did worry. But I’m not going down that road.

“That is twice, though, that we have lost out to refereeing decisions against Chelsea. Down at Stamford Bridge it was exactly the same.

“We have been caught on the wrong end of it this season. It’s just the quality of officials which has cost us. If he can’t get that right why is he officiating on Saturday?”

Chelsea boss Carlos Ancelotti wouldn’t be dragged into a slanging match but did say: “It’s only offside when the flag goes up.”

Both managers couldn’t agree either who were title favourites with the bookies making Chelsea their 8/13choice to be crowned kings and deny United their fourth in a row.

Ferguson added: “Chelsea are favourites now. There are five games left and they have two points more with a better goal difference. They are in the driving seat.

“I am certain we will respond but we can win all the next five games and not win the title. It’s a good position now for them to be in.

“We have to lift our players and we still have an opportunity to get into the semi finals of the Champions League. That should be incentive enough.”

Ancelotti added: “We’re not the favourites. But we have gone top. We have five games left. We have to stay focused and keep our composure. We now have a better possibility for winning the title.

“We have to be calm and quiet and be very focused. We have had a good reaction from the Inter Milan defeat. My players are very strong and they are very professional.