Brilliant Brazilian Luiz brings boss some job security

IN A match billed as the most expensive in Premier League history, featuring players worth a combined value of €575m, it was the investment of Roman Abramovich’s in the futures market that kept Chelsea in the title race and quelled talk that manager Carlo Ancelotti may not have a future at all.

Brazilians David Luiz, a €26m buy from Benfica in January, and Ramires, who cost €20m from the same club last summer, scored the goals in a vital 2-0 victory over Manchester City that continued Chelsea’s recent revival and gave the Premier League table a more familiar look.

The result moves Ancelotti’s side, who once slumped as low as sixth, up to third on 54 points, only four adrift of second-placed Arsenal and nine points behind Manchester United, who have played a game more and who must face Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 7.

Those facts alone make the victory hugely significant in a season that has seen Chelsea endure more downs than ups so far; but the fact it was played out in front of owner Abramovich and 24 hours after chief executive Ron Gourlay heaped pressure on the Italian by suggesting his performance would be ‘reviewed’ in May with only one year of his contract remaining, make it all the more important.

Chelsea made everyone wait for the goals, leaving it until 78 minutes to take the lead when Luiz headed home a Didier Drogba free-kick and only sealing three points in injury time when Ramires danced beautifully through the City defence to apply the coup-de-gras; but they won the tactical battle much earlier as Ancelotti, who had lost five of his six previous games against sides managed by Roberto Mancini, got one over his compatriot at last.

With that in mind the Italian could have been forgiven for singing his own praises in the post-match press conference but instead he chose a more humble approach, refusing to criticise Gourlay for his ill-timed comments and suggesting in reality he was fortunate to still be in a job.

“I know very well that this team slept for two months and, in that moment, I had fantastic support,” he said. “A lot of coaches that sleep for two months, at this moment they are at home watching the game on television. But I am here. Fortunately.

“As for my future; I’m working here and I’m happy to work here. You know my contract finishes in 2012 and I don’t need to speak now about my contract. There is a year to run and then we will take a decision. I’m happy in this moment. So I think we will continue.”

The possible presence of Jose Mourinho in the shadows will always make the final outcome of Ancelotti’s contract talks a little unpredictable but he certainly has a stronger bargaining position after this match which has revived Chelsea’s fading title hopes and given them a huge psychological advantage over City who, under owner Sheikh Mansour, have long-term plans to steal Chelsea’s Champions League place and overtake them as the strongest contender to challenge Manchester United’s dominance of English football.

City, badly missing injured striker Carlos Tevez, were hugely disappointing at the Bridge, fielding a defensive-minded side that struggled to create clear-cut chances and looked intent only on strangling the attacking instincts of their opponents.

They began the game brightly enough, with Petr Cech saving from Yaya Toure after only five minutes, but barely created a chance after that and were eventually undone by Ancelotti’s decision to take off Fernando Torres — still waiting for his first goal for the club — and to bring on Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the 70th minute.

It took only eight minutes for the decision, surprisingly booed by Chelsea fans who chanted Torres’ name in response, to make an impact; Drogba curving in a perfect free-kick from the left that Luiz expertly headed home from eight yards

From that moment on Chelsea looked certain victors and they confirmed the three points when unsung hero Ramires, who has improved dramatically in recent months, embarked on a mesmerising run through the City defence and finished it with a rising shot across Joe Hart that made it 2-0.

“It’s a big result for us,” said Ancelotti. “Tactically it was a good game, and we worked for 90 minutes with good fighting spirit. So I’m happy with this.

“In my opinion, it’s come too late to win the title. If it had come before, earlier maybe; but we slept for two months. But we have nine games to play and we have to try our best.”

The only worry for Ancelotti is Torres’ continued poor form in front of goal because he has now gone seven matches without finding the net since arriving from Liverpool and never looked likely to break his duck against City; but he certainly contributed more than Mancini’s latest new boy Edin Dzeko and you suspect there will be a bigger review of recent investment at Eastlands than at the Bridge when the campaign finally comes to an end.

Let’s be clear, no wad of pound notes and no amount of sky blue thinking is ever going to win Mancini the title this season, while Chelsea’s performance at least suggests they are potential champions; even if, in all probability, the Premier League title ends up in the red come May.