AC Milan to reveal Ancelotti future on Monday
Ancelotti is the favourite to replace interim manager Guus Hiddink at Chelsea, with reports suggesting the Italian will be appointed next week.
The former Milan midfielder has one year left on his contract and doubts over his future at the San Siro have intensified after he was criticised by owner Silvio Berlusconi last week.
Milan can seal automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League by beating Roma on Sunday, with a decision about Ancelotti to be made 24 hours later.
“I hope to say something on Monday because it will mean we have achieved direct Champions League qualification,’’ said chief executive Adriano Galliani.
Should they opt to replace Ancelotti, candidates would include former Milan players Leonardo and Marco van Basten. Last summer Chelsea were reportedly interested in appointing Ancelotti to succeed Avram Grant, but Milan rejected their approaches.
But with interim coach Guus Hiddink’s term in charge at Stamford Bridge about to come to an end, Chelsea could revive their interest.
Ancelotti, 49, has one year left on his contract and is the longest-serving manager in Italy’s top flight, having joined the Rossoneri from Juventus in 2001.
Since then he has led the club to two Champions League triumphs, in 2003 and 2007, and the Serie A title in 2004. But since then he has seen Milan’s bitter local rivals Inter win four successive league titles, the most recent being confirmed when Milan lost 2-1 at Udinese last weekend.
Mauro Tassotti and Frank Rijkaard are other names in the frame, but Galliani insists Milan have not even considered replacements for Ancelotti.
“I have never spoken to any coaches and I challenge anyone to show the contrary,’’ he said.
“We have never thought about any (other) coaches. Let’s allow the championship to finish and we’ll see.’’
Meanwhile Guus Hiddink has promised Sunderland’s relegation rivals that he will not rest many of his top stars in their final game of the season on Sunday.
Sunderland are only two points clear of the relegation zone and need to win their final game at home to Chelsea to guarantee a place in the Premier League next season.
But fears that Chelsea would field an under-strength side at the Stadium of Light ahead of the FA Cup against Everton the following Saturday have been dismissed by the Dutch coach.
Relegation strugglers Newcastle and Hull will be delighted to learn that Hiddink views Chelsea’s game at Sunderland as a vital part of the team’s preparation for the FA Cup final.
“I don’t want to rest a lot of people because they need to maintain their physical shape and also the way we want them to play,” said Hiddink. “If I rest too many people then I don’t think it’s good preparation for Wembley.”
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