Ancelotti: 86 points will win us the title

CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti has set his team a target of 86 points to win the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea currently lie in third place with 65 points, but victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park tonight would leave them just a point behind leaders Manchester United with seven games remaining.

The Blues then face Aston Villa at home and United at Old Trafford, but Ancelotti insists the title can still be won and believes 86 points will be enough to guarantee them glory.

After their disappointing 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Sunday, Ancelotti wants his side to bounce back in style against Portsmouth and rekindle their title hopes.

“I like statistics and I think that, in the past, with 86 points every team has won the title,” Ancelotti said. “I think that we need to get 86 points to win. We have less opportunity to win after last week because we lost two points at Blackburn, but we can have a chance again to win this title and we will do everything we can to do so. It’s very important for us.

“Now I want to believe we can win the championship and I want to stay focused on my job and give my players knowledge to win their next games.

“I always said that I want to give respect to my players and I want to have respect. I think this is the right behaviour and I think that, this season, everything is right with the players. I am happy with my players’ attitude.”

Ancelotti also believes he will still be in charge of Chelsea even if they do not win any silverware this season. While other managers have been shown the door for failing to win trophies, the Italian is adamant he will remain at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of his contract.

“My future is definitely at Chelsea next season,” added Ancelotti. “I can confirm that. I have two more years of a contract.”

Ancelotti also made it clear he expects England midfielder Joe Cole to be part of his plans, even though Cole said the lack of talks over a new contract is becoming a distraction. Cole’s contract expires at the end of the season and there is no new offer yet.

But Ancelotti said: “He will be here next season because the player wants to stay and the club wants to keep him in the squad. There is a time to speak about his contract. I have passed this to the club. I gave my technical opinion about this player, and nothing else.

“I think Joe is showing a pleasure to stay and play for this club. He’s doing a very good job, he’s very professional and he has a very good relationship with his other team-mates.”

“It’s a very important moment for him and the other players to show his quality to stay in the squad for the World Cup with England.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to return from injury tonight. He has been sidelined with a calf injury sustained against Inter Milan in the Champions League last month. Deputy keeper Hilario misses out with a groin strain while Michael Essien (knee); Ashley Cole (ankle); and Jose Bosingwa (knee) are all sidelined, along with Branislav Ivanovic (knee).

Meanwhile, Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is without striker Aruna Dindane. The Ivorian has been declared unavailable by the club’s administrators due to a clause in his loan deal from Lens, which states Pompey must pay the French side £4m (€4.4m) if he plays another game.

Tal Ben-Haim and John Utaka have groin injuries and miss out, while Hassan Yebda and Kevin-Prince Boateng are away having treatment on knee and ankle injuries respectively.