SOCCER: Chelsea v Ipswich TownCARLO ANCELOTTI has laughed off a would-be training ground protest and said he hoped that Chelsea could reignite their season in the FA Cup against Ipswich Town. The manager claimed not to have noticed but a supporter had daubed slogans on a couple of bed-sheets, which read "None of you are fit to wear the shirt" and "Ancelotti and Abramovich out." "In Italy, it would be different," Ancelotti said. "There, you can find 1,000 unhappy people outside the training ground. It's difficult to fight with 1,000 people. With one, we can manage. If it's only one, there's no problem."
Chelsea have problems and Ancelotti knows it. Their return of 10 points from the past 11 Premier League fixtures has left them in crisis; the players’ confidence is in tatters and Ancelotti has admitted that he is lucky to remain in a job. There is still no sign of the owner Roman Abramovich in London and, for Ancelotti, that may be a good thing.
This might be the worst run of his managerial career yet he firmly believes that if he and the players can focus on what has brought them success in the recent past, the tide will turn. Ancelotti does not intend to change too much for the visit of Ipswich tomorrow or at least, not through choice. Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba have knocks and will require late fitness tests while Alex will be out for a further “three to four weeks”, Ancelotti said, increasing the likelihood that the club will sign a centre-half this month.
Daniel Sturridge, who scored five times in a reserve-team friendly against Tottenham on Thursday, is expected to come into the starting XI. “We will play our strongest team for two reasons,” Ancelotti said. “We want to use every game to move on from this moment and, secondly, the FA Cup is very important to us.” Chelsea hope to become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to win the Cup for three seasons in a row.
Ancelotti said his players were not tired, citing the second-half performances against Aston Villa and Wolves in the past two matches, while he was on-message about the decision to move on five senior players last summer and promote a handful of academy youngsters, whom he has used only sparingly. “When we decided to change the squad, I was in total agreement,” he said.
Ancelotti was disappointed to be denied a meeting with Roy Keane, after Ipswich sacked him yesterday. Ancelotti was the Juventus manager in 1999 when Keane inspired Manchester United to beat them in the Champions League semi-final.
Keane’s dismissal offered the latest reminder of the lack of managerial job security but Ancelotti said he was sleeping well. “I don’t need a tablet,” he added, with a smile. “Maybe it’s because of the drink. I have the total support of the owner and the club, minus one fan.”
Meanwhile, Ipswich have confirmed that their search for a successor to Roy Keane is “at an advanced stage”.
The Tractor Boys have a Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal to look forward to next Wednesday, but seven defeats in nine outings mean Keane’s place in the dugout for Sunday’s FA Cup third round clash with Chelsea will be taken by first-team coach and caretaker boss Ian McParland.
Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg confirmed the club’s search for a permanent successor is gathering pace, although he refused to comment on speculation linking Paul Jewell with the post after the former Bradford, Wigan and Derby boss was installed as the favourite to replace Keane.
“We are in the process of looking for a new manager and that is at an advanced stage,” said Clegg on the club’s official website, itfc.co.uk.
“I’m not going to speculate on who the manager might be or fuel the speculation.” And Clegg confirmed that the new manager will be saddled with the same high expectations which dogged Keane’s reign. He added: “We know the type of manager we are looking for. The brief will be to take Ipswich Town back into the Premier League.”
However, despite spending €9.5million in the transfer market thanks to the backing of multi-millionaire owner Marcus Evans, Keane failed to deliver the results required. His first full season at in charge began disastrously, with no win in the first 14 games before rallying to finish 15th, while the current slump leaves Town just three points above the relegation zone.
GuardianService
