Ancelotti takes sting out of Mourinho return
Reuters - Monday 15 March 2010, 13:40
LONDON - Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti
has sought to play down the impact of Inter Milan boss Jose
Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, saying
sentiment would have no bearing on the Champions League game.
Mourinho is Chelsea's most successful coach, having won two
Premier League titles and three cups. The team he built between
2004 and 2007 is largely the side Inter will face when they bid
to defend a 2-1 first-leg lead at Stamford Bridge.
NEWS: Mourinho plots Inter progress
Ancelotti, who faced Mourinho last season as a fierce city
rival at AC Milan, is avoiding the histrionic gestures his
opposite number revels in. The Italian said he would for example
not be kissing the club badge, preferring only to kiss
"beautiful women".
"The players are not distracted by all this," Ancelotti told
a news conference on Monday ahead of the last-16 return match.
"Mourinho will come back. For him it will be a special evening.
"I think the fans will give him a very good reception. He
deserves this but the match will be a different thing.
"All Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on the
game. They are not interested in other things," said Ancelotti.
"The difference will be made by the different players, the
different confidence or courage the players put on the pitch."
Ancelotti dismissed suggestions the recent mediocre form of
the Serie A leaders would have an impact on the game.
"I'm not considering an Inter who have dropped in form, I'm
thinking about an Inter who have played so well over the
season," said the Italian.
"We have to be prepared for a team that is playing at its
best."
BETTER THINGS
Inter's 3-1 defeat at Catania last week might serve to spur
them to better things in the Champions League, added Ancelotti.
The Chelsea coach said his team would not panic if they
failed to score early.
"We do not have an obsession with scoring early. We know we
have to score but we have the whole game to do so," he said.
Ancelotti's sentiments were echoed by Florent Malouda, who
provided a goal and two assists in Saturday's 4-1 home win over
West Ham United and is in dazzling form.
"We must have patience so we won't go in a rush and try to
score early," said the France winger. "We will have to be clever
and score hopefully more than one goal."
Malouda, brought to Chelsea by Mourinho, deftly sidestepped
questions about the difference between the coaching methods of
the Portuguese and the Italian.
"There are too many differences to innumerate. I just hope
Carlo will make me win my first Champions League," said the
winger.
"We are not thinking about history. It's what happens
tomorrow, the past we don't care (about). We are just looking to
win and go through tomorrow."
Chelsea will again have to rely on third-string goalkeeper
Ross Turnbull, who played against West Ham because of injuries
to Petr Cech and his deputy Henrique Hilario.
Ancelotti, though, said Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho
was fit again after missing Saturday's game.
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