Carlo backs dark horses to win sprint

IT’S almost as if Manchester United didn’t see them coming.

Chelsea, who were 15 points behind and in fifth place in the Premier League not so long ago, arrive at Old Trafford tomorrow as the ultimate dark horses knowing victory would send them top and put them in contention to retain their title.

It seems unfathomable that United, who have just reached their third Champions League final in four years, could follow up that achievement by throwing away a league championship that was all but theirs until a shock defeat at Arsenal last weekend; but that’s exactly what Carlo Ancelotti believes will happen as he banks on the element of surprise.

The Italian had a glint in his eye and a knowing look during his pre-match press conference, almost like a man who knew a very important secret and wasn’t about to reveal it; and he certainly has a right to be pleased with himself.

So many people, including just about everyone facing him at the club’s press conference room at Cobham yesterday, ruled Chelsea out of the title race a long, long time ago; and maybe United, despite all their experience, had done the same.

“I think that, mentally, we can have an advantage going into this match,” said Ancelotti. “Obviously, Man United hoped they wouldn’t have to play this kind of game against us. If they’d had more of an advantage, it could have been an easy game; no, maybe not easy, but a different game. Now they have to fight again for the title. Maybe two or three weeks ago they didn’t think in this game they’d need to fight so much. But they do. Mentally, for this reason, we can have an advantage.”

Ancelotti’s viewpoint is an interesting one; he knows that Chelsea, with four Premier League victories in a row since losing at Old Trafford in the Champions League, are the side with the momentum, the side that has been building towards this match, thinking about this match, for weeks on end.

United, by contrast, have been concentrating on reaching Wembley, enjoying Arsenal’s demise and wondering how to improve their miserable away form which once again came back to haunt them at the Emirates.

But during all that time did they even think about Chelsea?

Ancelotti’s hope is that they didn’t — and that three days’ preparation will be too little compared to the weeks of dreaming his own players have been doing ever since losing in Manchester.

“For us, it’s like a final,” he said emphatically. “We are not happy: we wanted to play the final of the Champions League, but we have to be happy to play this different kind of final.

“We can compare this because it’s a very important game for us. We have to prepare this game like it’s a final. We have to stay more relaxed. There is a lot of pressure around us to prepare this game, but you have to have the skills to stay relaxed, maintain good control of your emotions, not be too afraid or worried because that uses energy, and you need that during the game.”

No team has won at Old Trafford in an entire year, going back 30 matches to last May when Chelsea clinched the 2010 title by winning 2-1 against Alex Ferguson’s men; but the incentive for the Londoners this time could not be greater.

The pain of last month’s defeat, when Ancelotti controversially left Didier Drogba on the bench in favour of Fernando Torres and paid the ultimate price, is still felt keenly at Stamford Bridge and ruining United’s home record would be a satisfying scalp.

“It’s time to win. I know, I know. They’ve had a fantastic record this season at home; they drew just one game. But we are ready for this,” added Ancelotti.

“What I learned from last time is that Rooney is the key player of Man United and also Giggs against us in the Champions League was the best player; he passed three balls and they scored three goals.

“But I won’t man-mark Rooney. I considered this, but it means changing too much our philosophy. So I don’t think it’s good for this game. We want to play our football, not just control their skills and ability. If we are better, we will win. If they are, they will win.”

The biggest decision for Ancelotti, as always, is whether to throw Drogba and Torres together in a 4-4-2 formation or stick to his tried and trusted 4-3-3, with one of the star strikers left on the bench; and surely this time it has to be Torres.

Then there are the persistent rumours that the manager’s very future depends on the outcome as Chelsea prepare end of season talks to discuss whether or not he will be offered a contract extension.

“I would like to stay, I would like to, but I am very quiet and calm. At the end of the season, the club will take a decision,” he said.

“If I have the possibility to stay here I will be very happy. But it’s not crazy to think that the club can change. Every club has this possibility to change the manager at the end of the season. I’ve said I don’t have a problem. I’ve tried to do my best.”

Right now, you have to say Ancelotti’s position is strengthening by the minute; but he may well worry that the element of surprise that is the key to his team’s chances at Old Trafford will not play as well with an owner who made up his mind six weeks ago and isn’t renowned for changing it.

The dark horse, even if he wins the race, could still have a dark future. But in fairness that’s for another day.

Let’s just enjoy the spectacle for now; because whoever gets to the line first, it promises to be an enthralling final straight.