‘Obsessive’ Carlo on thin ice

OBSESSION has been the undoing of many a good man and when Carlo Ancelotti insisted his club’s desperate and unrequited desire for the Champions League will not be his downfall should Chelsea fail to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight, the world rolled its eyes — especially considering rumours he plans to drop £50 million (€58m) striker Fernando Torres for the game.

Chelsea go into the quarter-final second leg tie 1-0 down from the first leg and all but out of the title race, sitting as they do 11 points behind leaders United in the Premier League.

So taking into consideration billionaire owner Roman Abramovich’s long-held yearning for the biggest trophy in club football — and his passion for star man Torres — it doesn’t take a cynic to suggest Ancelotti’s love affair with English football could come to a premature end if things don’t go well.

Chelsea have already lost in one Champions League final, leading to the departure of Avram Grant; and been beaten in four semi-finals — the first of which proved to be the end of Claudio Ranieri.

Even Jose Mourinho, the Special One, found himself sacked after his side were held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge by Norwegian side Rosenborg.

Since then, managers have come and gone but Ancelotti, reportedly courted for several years before eventually being appointed in July 2009, was seen as Abramovich’s ‘chosen one’, the man who had won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and made the competition his speciality.

Now he has to prove his expertise at Old Trafford to keep Abramovich’s dream alive for 2011, but the Italian refuses to accept there is more than just a trophy at stake when his team bid to cancel out Wayne Rooney’s first-leg winner tonight.

“I think a lot of times I played this kind of game with this pressure but it’s not pressure, it’s excitement. To be involved in this game is fantastic for my job, for my career I’m not worried because my future is already decided. I don’t have a problem about this game and it’s not important that I have to speak with Roman when I have a contract and everything is okay with him.

“I’m just happy to be involved in this game and to use my ability and skills to give the players the chance to play at their best. All of us, Roman included, hope everything will be okay.”

Ancelotti’s faith in his owner’s loyalty and in his own ability is touching, but in reality history should make him nervous and Alex Ferguson hardly did him any favours by starting a debate over Chelsea’s obsession with a trophy that also escaped United’s clutches for an agonising 31 years before the drought was ended against Bayern Munich in 1999.

“It seems to be an obsession to win the European Cup for Chelsea and that’s why they bought Torres,” said Ferguson. “Abramovich has nailed his colours to the mast. If you are obsessed with winning the European Cup you are stretching yourself a bit, but I can understand it because I had the obsession myself for quite a while. I lost semi-finals and you say to yourself you are never going to do it.

“When we did it in Barcelona it was the greatest feeling of all time and it took the monkey off my back.

“But let’s not get carried away here. Everyone is talking about Chelsea but Chelsea are no more desperate than Manchester United, believe me.’’

United would seem to hold all the aces going into the tie, too. Quite aside from the advantage of Rooney’s first-leg goal they are also the form team going into tonight’s match and have been boosted by the return from injury of Anderson, Antonia Valencia, John O’Shea and, even more importantly, Rio Ferdinand.

The centre-half made a surprise return for the first leg at Stamford Bridge and his presence could be crucial to hopes of snuffing out Chelsea’s attack.

“I was praying he would be fit for this game because what he gives us is composure, and an ability to talk to the players. He doesn’t panic, he handles everything,’’ said Ferguson. “Last week’s game at Chelsea was one of his best performances, absolutely magnificent.’’

The tactical battle between Ferguson and Ancelotti should be fascinating, with the Italian promising ‘something special’ but it would be hard to argue against a case that Manchester United are favourites.

“Momentum is key,’’ insisted Ferguson. “When you get that momentum it is difficult to knock you off your stride. Hopefully that is what will drive our players on.’’