Chelsea face delay in Ancelotti appointment

CHELSEA may have to delay their appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager after the Italian’s current club, AC Milan, failed to rubber-stamp their qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Ancelotti, who has already held preliminary talks with the west Londoners over taking over at Stamford Bridge, has refused to guarantee he would leave the Rossoneri until he had led the club back into the Champions League.

Milan could have confirmed that by beating AS Roma yesterday, opening the possibility of Chelsea holding talks over terms this week, but instead the Rossoneri lost 3-2. Only a mathematical miracle will prevent Milan losing out to Fiorentina in the race for a Champions League berth, but Ancelotti is unlikely to countenance making a firm decision until it is established either way.