Chelsea back Ancelotti
December 11th 2010 12:43
Link: twitter.com/mattsaltmer
Given Chelsea's dramatic loss of form of late, there were growing concerns that Carlo Ancelotti's days were numbered at the club. Owner Roman Abramovic, has had a terrible record of hiring and firing, since buying the club in 2003. He sacked Claudio Ranieri despite a Champions League semi final in his first season, then after Jose Mourinho revolutionised the club, he was sacked after not starting a season too well.
Post-Mourinho, Avram Grant reached 2nd in the league, the club's first ever Champions League final and an FA Cup Final, but was also given the boot. And when Scolari was shown the door after seven months in charge, the Russian owner proved once and for all, that he lacks loyalty to his managers. So despite winning the double in his first year in charge last campaign, I was half expecting Ancelotti to be gone soon.
But after the Italian manager stated yesterday that he had the owner's backing, today he has also said, that the club were prepared to give him funds in January. This is a big sign that Ancelotti is at Chelsea for the long term. Abramovic could easily get rid of him, and give a new manager money to spend, but he looks set to really back his current boss.
Much has been said about Chelsea's ageing squad, and I definitely feel that a younger, but world class, centre back and striker are needed. Despite being English champions, Chelsea only have two senior strikers, and Anelka and Drogba are both the wrong side of 30. They have been linked to Sergio Aguero, Neymar and Lukaku, arguably the three most exciting young forwards in world football.
As for defence, Terry and Alex are the only two senior centre halfs, and have both had injury problems this season. David Luiz of Benfica has much been talked about as a transfer target, and I feel he is the most likely arrival in January.
But with the likes of Cole, Ferreira, Lampard, Malouda and Bennayoun also reaching the latter stages of their careers, fresh players need to be added to the Chelsea squad in the near future. The only real arrival in the last two years, £17 million midfielder Ramires, has failed to prove worth the money so far. But if Ancelotti is given money to spend in January, maybe that is what the club need, to really kick start their season again.
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