Ancelotti twists the knife
It was perhaps a rather mischievous piece of punditry from the Chelsea manager but incisive, too, because as good as his team were during a 2-1 victory on Saturday that leaves them two points clear at the top of the table, the absence of Rooney, ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury, was equally significant as United produced a disjointed and lacklustre performance that does not augur well for their trophy hopes.
United must recover quickly because they face Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Wednesday and then Blackburn in a do-or-die Premier League clash at Ewood Park next Sunday, both of them without their talismanic striker.
Normally after a result like this, sealed by goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba, the United mafia move quickly to remind us all that Ferguson’s side always finish the season strongly; that the Old Trafford players have more experience at getting across the line than any of their rivals and that they always, always respond to a setback.
But not this time.
Bookmakers made Chelsea title favourites almost as soon as the final whistle blew while United fans jammed radio phone-ins with suggestions that Dimitar Berbatov was not an adequate replacement for their number 10. So you can hardly blame Ancelotti for wanting to ram the point home.
“It’s not an easy moment for United because they lost against Bayern, they lost to us and they lost Rooney,” he said, his eyes twinkling under a new, smart haircut.
“They lost a very important player and they are not the same without him. Rooney is fantastic. Berbatov is a good player but Rooney is different because he can come back to receive the ball and get the team moving. He’s an unbelievable player.”
In comparison to Rooney, Berbatov looked slow, static and lacking in self-confidence, missing his big chance when he stubbed a shot into the ground and straight at goalkeeper Petr Cech right at the death.
Chelsea defenders Alex and John Terry had little difficulty keeping him quiet at other times, and the visitors also had little difficulty in dominating midfield with their new 4-3-3 formation that features Deco pulling the strings from deep.
The fact that Ancelotti was brave enough to leave his own star striker Drogba on the bench in order to keep the same team that beat Aston Villa so convincingly a week earlier also said much about the strength of both squads, especially as Chelsea achieved their victory without injured players such as Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho.
Ancelotti’s side were so dominant and so impressive in the first half that it’s hard to remember a single clear-cut chance created by United who looked sleepy, leaden-footed and unsure of their system without Rooney’s incisive, energetic play.
Even experienced players such as Ryan Giggs were guilty of giving away possession on a regular basis while Chelsea possessed a real cutting edge thanks to the pace, strength and trickery of winger Florent Malouda and the creative instincts of an ever-improving Deco.
The crucial goal came when Malouda forced his way, through a combination of skill and power, to the bye-line and crossed low for a revitalised Joe Cole to score with the cleverest of back-heel flicks.
Both teams had penalty shouts after that – Park Ji-Sung falling theatrically at one end and Gary Neville barging Anelka off the ball at the other. But neither were given and it was left to another moment of controversy, substitute Drogba firing home despite being clearly offside just when United were starting to build up steam in the second half, to win the day.
A quick reply from substitute Macheda, bundling home from close range with more than a hint of handball about it, at least set up a fiery finale but in truth Chelsea had been the better side for long periods and deserved their victory.
“We are two points behind and Chelsea are favourites now, there’s no question about that,” admitted Ferguson. “They are in the driving seat and it’s a good position for them to be in. I’m certain we’ll respond, but we could win our next five games and not win it.”
The problem for United, of course, is that Rooney’s absence not only affects their title hopes but also their dreams in Europe ahead of the return leg against Bayern.
“We have to get ourselves up for Wednesday, we have to,” stressed Ferguson. “It’s so important. There’s an opportunity to get into the semi-final of the European Cup with a final in Madrid beckoning. That’s incentive enough and I’m sure we can do that.”
There is little doubt that United will find enough fire in their belly to make life extremely uncomfortable for Bayern but whether they can turn the title race around now is more questionable. The first task will be to beat Blackburn next weekend while Chelsea are concentrating on an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa, but Ancelotti, who in fairness wished United well in their bid for European silverware, is confident his own team will not buckle.
“It’s not a disadvantage that we have the FA Cup next weekend,” he said. “A disadvantage is that we have some very difficult games to come in the league, we have to play a derby against Tottenham, we have to play Stoke, we have to play in Liverpool. So we have to prepare game by game.
“But the character of the team is good. They have a desire to win this title because it’s a long time since we won it. And I think if we maintain this form we deserve to win it this year. We are ready.”
The big question is whether Manchester United can say the same. On Saturday’s evidence it would be an idle boast.
MATCH RATING: *** Plenty of controversy, plenty of drama and plenty of hot air. Might have been better had United made more of a fist of things.
REFEREE: Mike Dean (The Wirral) 5 – Was the target of Ferguson’s wrath after the game but for long periods he seemed on top of matters. However, failed to give a penalty when Nicolas Anelka was clearly bundled off the ball by Gary Neville while United should also have had a spot kick when Park Ji-Sung was fouled by Yuri Zhirkov.
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