Angry Ancelotti denies exit strategy

AN EMOTIONAL Carlo Ancelotti yesterday launched a staunch denial that he is considering leaving Chelsea and refuted suggestions his position at Stamford Bridge has been left untenable by recent intervention in club affairs by those above him.

What started as a shrug of the shoulders at a press conference following the controversial sacking of popular assistant manager Ray Wilkins has ballooned so out of all control in the last week that Ancelotti has, exasperatedly, sought to put the flow of rumours to rest. His message is that despite problems off the pitch and, just as importantly, despite three defeats in four league games on the field, he intends to stay at Stamford Bridge for as long as possible and create a legacy to match the likes of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

Of course that was always the aim, that was always his ambition. So how on earth did we reach this point — the point at which Chelsea seems set to self-destruct just when everything was going so well?