Skip to main content

Carlo Ancelotti hails Chelsea strikers

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti shows his delight after the win over Copenhagen
The win over Copenhagen relieved some of the pressure on Ancelotti

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has praised his strikers after the 2-0 win over Copenhagen in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.
Nicolas Anelka scored twice after starting alongside Fernando Torres, while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou came on late in the game.
Asked if they were the best in Europe, Ancelotti said: "Yes, I think.
"We want to maintain their fitness, but rotation could do them good with the Premier League and Champions League."
The win was a welcome tonic for Ancelotti after Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton on Saturday and their defence of the Premier League all-but over.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are now on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals barring a capitulation in the return leg on 16 March.
And, although Ancelotti is having to rotate his strikers, he insists he has their backing as he tries to win the Champions League and rescue a season in which the tournament is his side's only realistic chance of silverware.
"They are accepting my decisions without problems, and this is important. To have them available at the moment, it's important at this time of year," added Ancelotti.
"We have fantastic strikers. I have to make a decision about the games, to put them in or not.
"Didier played for two hours against Everton [in the FA Cup]. Torres and Anelka were fresh and, together, they played well."
Torres showed signs of returning to his best against Copenhagen and, despite failing to score in his three outings since moving to the Blues for £50m from Liverpool in January, Ancelotti was satisfied with the Spaniard's contribution.
"His performance was really good," said the Chelsea boss. "There's a little bit of disappointment because he could have scored. But it doesn't matter. His movement with Anelka was so good.
Maybe we will never be as good as Chelsea but, on another day, we could have been a lot closer to them.
Copenhagen manager Stale Solbakken
"Anelka was able to score and Torres had a lot of opportunities that he created with his movement. He will score in the next game."
Ancelotti had insisted before the win against Copenhagen that his faltering side's season was not over and he added: "We are still alive.
"I had an idea before the game, and I maintain the same idea now. We are not dead. It's just one game, though.
"I want to see my team play again, again, again."
Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken had no complaints following a defeat where he believes his players did not do themselves justice.
"We lost to a better team," he said. "They were stronger than us and we made too many technical errors.
"To be honest, some of my best players maybe didn't have their best days. They looked sharper and were quicker.
"Some of my players played very well and should have a positive feeling in a few days, but others didn't live up to what they achieved before.
"Maybe we will never be as good as Chelsea but, on another day, we could have been a lot closer to them. Chelsea were two goals better than us: no discussion."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9405199.stm

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Please note: Fixtures are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Sunday, 22 May 2011 Aston Villa v Liverpool , 16:00 Bolton v Man City , 16:00 Everton v Chelsea , 16:00 Fulham v Arsenal , 16:00 Man Utd v Blackpool , 16:00 Newcastle v West Brom , 16:00 Stoke v Wigan , 16:00 Tottenham v Birmingham , 16:00 West Ham v Sunderland , 16:00 Wolverhampton v Blackburn , 16:00   http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/fixtures/default.stm
Post a Comment
Read more

Rodgers hails 'peerless' Gerrard after late Fulham winner

Brendan Rodgers  has labelled  Steven Gerrard  as "peerless" after the midfielder's late penalty secured a 3-2 win for  Liverpool  over  Fulham . The Merseysiders twice fell behind at Craven Cottage on Wednesday as Kolo Toure sliced past his own goalkeeper before Kieran Richardson made the most of Martin Skrtel's deflection to score from close range. On both occasions, though, Liverpool pulled level. First, Gerrard's exquisite pass was received by Daniel Sturridge, who kept his cool with a neat finish, before Philippe Coutinho cut inside to strike home from 20 yards. It looked like Liverpool would be frustrated in their efforts to find a winner until Sturridge was chopped down by Sascha Riether in the last minute, and Gerrard held his nerve to convert the penalty. "Steven is peerless in many aspects of football," Rodgers said. "His performance again was [brilliant]. "His pass for the first goal, that penetration he has that he's sh...
Post a Comment
Read more

'I'd pick Hazard over Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar'

Belgium  boss  Marc Wilmots  has claimed he would prefer  Eden Hazard  in his team than  Lionel Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo  or  Neymar . The Chelsea star, 23, has bee n in stellar form in the Premier League lately and has helped his side rocket up to the top of the table at Arsenal and Manchester City's expense. Wilmots, who is sure to take Hazard to this summer's World Cup, lavished praise on the former Lille winger, whom he believes is becoming a candidate for the Ballon d'Or with his performances at Stamford Bridge. "Eden has found in the Belgium team a side that can take him as high as his dreams," the Belgium head coach told  L'Equipe . "Even within a very strong team, Eden stands out because he has something more. Technically, he is amazing! I'd put him on my podium Ballon d'Or because he totally convinced me of his talent. "If you ask me if I want Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar, I'd keep Hazard." Wilmots thinks Hazard can replica...
Post a Comment
Read more