Ancelotti: Anelka going nowhere
Ancelotti rejected suggestions that the 11-goal hitman will quit the club following speculation that talks over a new contract had stalled.
The Frenchman has just 18 months left on his existing contract and Chelsea are keen to tie him down to a long-term deal.
But while it is understood the two parties are far from close to an agreement, Ancelotti revealed the player has already told him that he wants to stay at the club.
“I think that they are speaking with his agent and they will try to find the right solution for both the club and for him,” said Ancelotti.
“I’m confident he’ll sign. Anelka is a top player and this club needs to have a lot of top players. And so, it’s the same question with Joe Cole. We want to keep him and he wants to stay. There will be a resolution.
“Anelka has told me he wants to stay. He’s happy with me. He’s happy to work with me, and I’m very happy to work with him. That’s a wedding, no? We don’t want to break up.”
Ancelotti also insists that Cole still has time to force his way into Fabio Capello’s England squad for the World Cup finals this summer.
“It’s not too late for him,” said Ancelotti. “There are a lot of games until the end of the season and he has the time to show his quality.’’
Chelsea face a difficult encounter against Alex McLeish’s in-form Birmingham.
The West Midland’s side have gone 15 games unbeaten in all competitions and held Chelsea to a goalless draw on St Stephen’s Day – the only club to prevent Ancelotti’s side from scoring so far this season.
“It will be a very difficult game,” admitted the Italian. “It depends on us. If we do our best, I think we can win.
“But it will be more difficult, with respect, than the last few games because we play against a team with a lot of defensive quality. In the defensive positions, they are very good.
“We need three more points but they have not lost for 15 games and are having an unbelievable season. They have done fantastically well.’’
Juliano Belletti, who limped out of the Preston game, will not require surgery on his damaged knee and should be back inside a month.
Frank Lampard, who damaged a calf in the same game, is fit but Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, expected back from the African Nations Cup on Wednesday, will not be risked.
“We had questions over Lampard, but he trained today and he will be ready to play tomorrow,” confirmed Ancelotti. “So we have out Belletti – he had a scan yesterday and won’t need to have surgery. ”
McLeish is under no illusions about the task facing his City against Ancelotti’s team but believes they can play with no fear after their recent run and encouraging performances against the other Premier League ‘big guns.’
He said: “We won’t be favourites to win this one! Chelsea are in great form as well and I believes they are the team to beat for the title although Manchester United always come strong in the second half of the season.
“But we’ve gone to Old Trafford, the Emirates, White Hart Lane, Anfield, Goodison Park and, although we may have not taken a lot of points, we’ve given good performances.
“We didn’t look as if we were out of our depth in any shape or form and it has given the players great confidence and belief in themselves.’
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