Ban harsh on Anelka - Ancelotti

20 August 2010 14:27
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the French Football Federation went over the top in banning Nicolas Anelka for 18 matches.[LNB] Anelka, 31, received the suspension after being sent home from the World Cup following a reported bust-up with the then-France coach Raymond Domenech.[LNB]The Chelsea striker blasted the FFF as "clowns" and laughed off the ban, insisting he had already retired from international football.[LNB]Ancelotti insisted Anelka did not deserve such a punishment and he said: "I think it was unfair for him - 18 games is too much.[LNB]"I don't know what happened there but Anelka is an honest man and he didn't deserve the decision.[LNB]"It is good news for myself because he can stay here to train during the international break, he can maintain a good condition.[LNB]"But for him it is not good news because every player wants to play in the national team.[LNB]"But Anelka has reacted very well. He has taken it with good spirit."[LNB]Anelka built up a reputation earlier in his career as a player who could be difficult to handle.[LNB]But asked whether Anelka has ever caused him any trouble at Chelsea, Ancelotti said: "No, never."[LNB]Anelka was not the only Chelsea star to endure a difficult summer - but there has been no World Cup hangover at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Chelsea picked up from where they left off last season as Didier Drogba's hat-trick propelled them to a thumping 6-0 victory over West Brom on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign.[LNB]Roman Abramovich wants entertaining football and Ancelotti has delivered, with Chelsea scoring a record-breaking 103 goals last season. They banged in seven on three occasions before rounding off the campaign with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan.[LNB]The two sides meet again at the DW Stadium on Saturday and the omens do not look promising for Wigan, who opened their season with a 4-0 defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool.[LNB]Ancelotti is anxious for Chelsea to set the Premier League pace from the outset - but he has also tried to temper expectations that tomorrow's trip to Wigan will be a walkover.[LNB]The Italian reminded Chelsea their first defeat of last season was at the DW Stadium.[LNB]Ancelotti said: "It is very important we make a good start, not just one game. Last year we won the first six games in the league and we want to do the same.[LNB]"I will be happy if we win 1-0. It is important to keep a clean sheet. Winning 6-0 or 7-0 every week is not football.[LNB]"It is important to win and to play well. We have to pay attention. The last game at Wigan we lost 3-1.[LNB]"We have to prepare well for this game and be right mentally. They caused us a lot of problems there last season, it was our first defeat, and we want to continue our good start to the season.[LNB]"They started the season badly and lost at home against Blackpool. They will want to be strong and have power tomorrow to produce a different game."[LNB]Ancelotti accepted the Brazilian striker Neymar will not be a Chelsea player after the in-demand 18-year-old decided to remain at Santos.[LNB]"I knew this. He was a Santos player, he is a Santos player. He is a young player and everyone looks at him but this doesn't mean he will be a Chelsea player," said Ancelotti.[LNB]Chelsea are looking to send Nemanja Matic and Slobodan Rajkovic out on loan before the transfer window closes.[LNB]Meanwhile, defender Sam Hutchinson, who made his first-team debut in 2007 but has been troubled by knee injury problems since, has announced his retirement.[LNB]Chelsea said the 21-year-old former England Under-19 international had suffered a recurrence of the knee injury and would work at the club's academy while taking a sports science course at university, before pursuing coaching qualifications.[LNB]Hutchinson made two Premier League appearances as substitute last season, and started in the Carling Cup match against QPR.

Source: Team_Talk