Ancelotti to allow key quartet leave early for African Nations

CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti has given four key players permission to go to the African Nations Cup early.

It means Ivory Coast strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou plus Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi and Ghana’s Michael Essien will miss five club games in January, including their FA Cup third round tie against Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The African Nations Cup runs from January 10-31 but Ancelotti is happy for the quartet to leave early and join their respective training camps before the end of the month.

Essien is facing a battle to be fit in time after collecting a hamstring injury against APOEL in their final Champions League game in midweek.

Ancelotti is happy for Ghana to send over their doctor to examine Essien and the Italian coach insists the player should be fit in time to leave on December 28. But it is unlikely that Essien will play for Chelsea before joining up with his country.

“The African players can all go on December 28,” confirmed Ancelotti.

“Michael had a scan and I think he will be out for between three and four weeks. The aim is to work to improve his injury but I think he will be ready to go on December 28, if he stays well. I have no problem with the Ghana doctor coming here. If they want to come here to see Essien, there is no problem.”

If their respective nations stay in the tournament until the end, the quartet will miss the cup-tie with Watford plus away league games at Hull and Burnley and two home matches against Sunderland and Birmingham.

The decision to let them go early will not have any bearing on the club’s transfer plans in the January window.

Ancelotti is adamant that no new players have been targeted despite speculation linking them with Ajax playmaker Luis Suarez and Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Darijo Srna.

Ancelotti added: “There is no news on the market in January. We have the same view as we have had in the last week – we do not, at this moment, need to have new players in January.’’

Chelsea have not won for three games and their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League has dwindled to just two points ahead of Manchester United.

Ancelotti let his feelings known to the players after Mikel’s mistake led to the Blues drawing 2-2 with Cypriot minnows APOEL in the Champions League and he is determined they get back to winning ways against injury-ravaged Everton today.

However, Ancelotti insists he was “unhappy” rather than “angry” with Wednesday’s second-half performance and does not hold a grudge against Mikel.

“I was not angry after the game, I prefer to say I was unhappy,” explained the Italian. “I do not need a whip with these players, because I know their professionalism.’’

The Chelsea coach is expecting a difficult encounter against an Everton side ravaged by injuries and suspensions.

“They have a lot of problems with injuries but they still have some good young players,” added Ancelotti.

“I think they will defend and use the counter attack so we must put pressure on them to win this game.”