Ancelotti: Still plenty to play for
A game with United at Stamford Bridge is perennially billed as a title decider, but it appears all Ancelotti’s men can achieve on that front tonight is to dent their opponents’ bid to depose them as champions.
Chelsea go into the game 15 points behind Alex Ferguson’s side, whose only realistic challengers now look like second-placed Arsenal. But with the Blues needing victory to climb back above Tottenham into fourth place, manager Ancelotti believes there is still plenty riding on the outcome tonight.
“It’s a very important game for them, for us, for the future of Manchester United and the future of Chelsea,” said Ancelotti, whose side put a three-match winless run behind them last week by beating FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.
“We are excited to play this game. We arrive at it at a good moment. We have confidence to do our best and win it. It won’t be easy. United have been, until now, the best team in the Premier League”.
For the fourth time in the last five games, Ancelotti’s big selection decision revolves around whether to play Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, or both. Confirming only that both would “be involved” at some stage against United, Ancelotti added: “They can play together without problem. We’re working on that in training. “They don’t have a problem playing with each other.”
The Italian refused to be drawn on speculation about Drogba’s Stamford Bridge future and once again backed the misfiring Torres to come good.
“Obviously, for a striker it’s important to score,” he said of the latter, who once again failed to find the net in Copenhagen.
“But, above all in the last game, he played very well. He had four opportunities to score and was denied by the goalkeeper and he moved very well for the team. He’d have preferred to score, but he will.”
For his part, Torres admits it is up to him to adapt to Chelsea’s style of play as he looks finally to break his scoring duck for his new club.
He said: “It is my job to understand the game of Nico or the game of Didier Drogba, and to be involved in the routine of the team and know the quality of the players so that’s what I am trying to do now.”
Tonight would be the perfect time for Torres to net his first Chelsea goal and he has reason to feel confident against a United defence he has a habit of tormenting. United captain Nemanja Vidic has twice been sent off playing against the Spaniard and will be without injured regular partner Rio Ferdinand at Stamford Bridge.
Torres said: “You want to play well against these players to show you can do it, and Vidic and Ferdinand were always a big challenge for me, so I hoped they could both play.
“Some people prefer big players not to be playing but I prefer to play against these kinds of players.”
With Ferdinand out Chris Smalling is likely to keep his place in the heart of United’s defence for the trip to Stamford Bridge and United boss Ferguson is impressed by the former Fulham man’s development.
“We are very pleased with his performances,’’ Ferguson said. “It’s an outstanding contribution he has made. But, do you know, I expected him to do well. I had no doubts about him.’’
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