Carlo Ancelotti insists he is not feeling the pressure at Chelsea and has 100 percent support from the club as he prepares to face Wigan.Chelsea’s Champions League future hangs in the balance following a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in midweek and they are also out of the running in the Premier League, currently sitting fourth and 11 points behind the leaders.
But Ancelotti refuses to believe his job is on the line.
“I don’t think the decision about my future is about whether I win the Champions League or not,” Ancelotti said.
“I think the club knows me very well, knows my job, knows my behaviour. I think the support until now is totally 100 percent.”
“I don’t have a problem about this; the only issue is we are not doing as well as we started the season. But we have time to do our best.”
Chelsea face Wigan at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and Ancelotti does not want his players side-tracked by next week?s trip to Old Trafford.
“This is an important game,” he said. “Tomorrow I want to put out the best team. We want to win tomorrow with a good performance, spirit and attitude.”
“We worked very hard on Wednesday night so if some players aren’t 100 percent, they’ll stay out.”
“But it’s good news that Alex is ok, fit. He won’t start tomorrow, but he will be involved on the bench. I hope to give him maybe 30 or 45 minutes just to test his condition.”
“In April every club, every team has to reach their aims and so every game is important. For Wigan tomorrow it will be very important because they are fighting for survival and I’m sure they will come here to give 100 percent. We have to be ready to manage this.”
Fernando Torres is still waiting for his first goal, but Ancelotti insists he is not feeling the pressure of his 50 million pound move from Liverpool.
The manager hopes the return of his former Reds team-mate Yossi Benayoun can help finally break his goal drought.
“Players don’t think about the transfer fee or salaries, they think about playing,” Ancelotti said.
“This is not a good moment for Fernando but he has to have support first from himself and second from the manager, team-mates and the club. He has it.”
“Benayoun is the player who knows Fernando best because they?ve played together, and that can help him to move on from this particular moment.”
“Yossi is not 100 per cent fit yet. He was out for six months, but he?s doing really well.”
Originally published on Football FanCast.com
