Ancelotti wants to create dynasty
The devil, however, is in the detail. Carlo Ancelotti might have led Chelsea to the top of the Premier League, the last 16 of the Champions League and the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup in his embryonic tenure but it is he who is feeling the hot breath of his owner, Roman Abramovich, on his neck.
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, is trophyless since 2005 but could probably go another four years without winning silverware and still keep his job in north London.
It is a curiosity which highlights the cultural chasm between these two neighbours, with Arsenal’s determinedly patient approach representing the ultimate contrast to Abramovich’s revolving-door philosophy.
But Ancelotti insists he can help usher in a new era of stability at Stamford Bridge and wants to emulate his achievement in creating a dynasty.
“My objective is to keep this position for a long time, and to maintain the club’s position at the top of the Premier League and doing well in the Champions League,” he said.
“I think that this is a good thing, to maintain stability in the club. Jose Mourinho did very well here. Other coaches had difficulties but now I hope to keep the same line of Mourinho.
“I never thought that I train for money. For sure, the club pay me to train this team, but I’m here because of my passion and enthusiasm. Chelsea is a like a family and there is a good atmosphere here.”
Ancelotti’s assertion that he could spend “20 years” in west London was very much tongue-in-cheek but the 50-year-old is used to being granted time by owners who would ordinarily be regarded as trigger-happy.
He survived eight years under Silvio Berlusconi at Milan, a feat almost unheard of in Serie A.
“For an Italian coach, it’s very difficult to think about staying at one club more than five years,” he added. “I stayed at Milan for eight years and, for an Italian coach, that was a record. In England, it’s easier to stay for a long time. In Italy there is pressure and violence but, here, the football is totally different. You have to judge a coach not only on his results. Only one coach wins the Premiership each year, but there are a lot of coaches who work very well at their clubs. Wenger, for example, works very well.”
Ancelotti is unlikely to match Wenger’s 13-year reign if he fails to return trophies to Abramovich next May, and to that end, tomorrow’s tussle at the Emirates will be pivotal.
Victory for Chelsea would leave them 11 points clear of Arsenal, with Ancelotti ready to match his opponents’ beautiful football with some old-fashioned brawn.
“Arsenal are a particular team,” he said. “They don’t use strength to win the game. They use their own fantastic technical qualities. But we can use strength to win. We are strong physically and we have an opportunity to use that on free-kicks and in the air.”
Ancelotti already boasts a formidable record against his ‘big four’ rivals, having notched victories over Liverpool and Manchester United.
This, however, is a different test, the first time he has met one of the fellow elite away from home and “On Sunday, we want to win to try to improve our position, that’s all, not send a message,” he said. “When you play against a strong team like Arsenal or Manchester United, it’s an important test and we want to pass that.”
Chelsea’s hopes of emulating their 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal towards the end of last season should be lifted by the return of Frank Lampard, who has recovered from a thigh injury sustained while on international duty.
Lampard is one of several players, including Robin van Persie and Glen Johnson, to have flown to Serbia for treatment from Marijana Kovacevic, the controversial doctor whose remedies include rubbing oils from a horse placenta on injured muscles.
Chelsea insist the midfielder did not indulge in the placenta treatment, preferring to rely on ordinary massage oils. In the event, Lampard enjoyed just one hour-long session with Dr Kovacevic before politely declining her suggestion of another two hours’ worth of treatment.
“I don’t think she is better than our masseurs,” Ancelotti said, rather sniffily. “I believe only in my doctors.”
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