Ancelotti: I'm not in full control at Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti has further fuelled Chelsea’s crisis by admitting he is not in total control of team affairs.
The injury-hit champions are reeling after three defeats in four Premier League games.
Their lead at the top has gone after successive defeats to Sunderland and Birmingham.
Chelsea’s shock reverses have coincided with owner Roman Abramovich ruthlessly axing Ancelotti’s popular assistant Ray Wilkins.
Ancelotti, who is said to be “disillusioned” and at his lowest point since being at Chelsea, has also been told scout Michael Emenalo has been promoted without the Italian’s full approval to help fill the void.
It was put to Ancelotti at St Andrews that the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United would not tolerate such interference from powers above.
Ancelotti responded: “If you have to compare me with Ferguson, it’s a different position.
“Ferguson has total control of the team - I have just technical direction. Full stop.”
Ancelotti’s pointed remark is his strongest reaction to the cut-backs by Chelsea’s powerbrokers.
After winning the title last season, Chelsea offloaded Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Juliano Belletti and Deco in a cost-cutting measure that trimmed £20m from the annual wage bill.
But the champions’ lack of strength in depth has been exposed due to injuries and suspensions to the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien.
Defender Alex only played in the 1-0 loss at Birmingham after postponing knee surgery.
Assistant first team coaches Paul Clement and Emenalo were in the dug-out with Ancelotti at Brum.
While Wilkins is suing for unfair dismissal after being controversially sacked from his coaching role at half-time during a reserve game.
But Ancelotti again distanced himself from Wilkins’ sacking adding: “This is not my decision.”
Chelsea will look to respond tomorrow when they host Zilina in the Champions League Group F.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Chelsea-boss-Carlo-Ancelotti-admits-he-doesn-t-have-total-control-like-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-does-at-Manchester-United-article633977.htmlCARLO ANCELOTTI: CHELSEA MANAGER FEELING THE STRAIN
CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be considering his own position as his sacked former assistant Ray Wilkins prepares to sue the club.
Ancelotti’s table-topping team have been stuttering – they were dumped 1-0 at Birmingham yesterday for their second League defeat in a row. And he has been unhappy at losing his right hand man Wilkins, known as ‘Mr Chelsea’.
What became apparent was that Ancelotti, despite winning the Double in his fi rst season, had no room for manoeuvre when Wilkins went.
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It’s believed that any concerted opposition to the move would have left Ancelotti’s own position vulnerable. The
club’s opposition scout Michael Emenalo has now been brought in as Ancelotti’s assistant first team coach, replacing the popular Wilkins – a decision taken in the boardroom.
Friends of the former AC Milan manager say that Ancelotti is living on the edge at a tension-filled club and could be tipped over it… if any more decisions are made behind his back.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/212829/-Carlo-Ancelotti-Chelsea-manager-feeling-the-strain