Source: Telegraph
Carlo Ancelotti calls for focus after Chelsea thrash Portsmouth at Fratton Park
Chelsea thrashed bottom club Portsmouth 5-0 at Fratton Park last night thanks to braces from Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba, as well as Frank Lampard's injury-time effort. [LNB]The win signalled the end of a two-match winless run which saw Chelsea crash out of the Champions League and fall behind Manchester United in the title race. [LNB]Chelsea now sit one point behind United, who they face a week on Saturday after taking on Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge this weekend. [LNB]Ancelotti played down the importance of the win and admitted his side still have a lot of work to do in their remaining matches to win the league and the FA Cup, where they face Villa in the semi final next month. [LNB]"We needed to have this performance, we needed to win," said the Italian. [LNB]"I hope that bad period for us is finished. We'll only know on Saturday whether it has but tonight we played well, stayed focused for 90 minutes and put in a good performance. It was necessary to do this. [LNB]"We are involved in the Premier League and the FA Cup, so maybe eight or nine games until the end of the season, so we need to maintain this period and this spirit to play. [LNB]"We have to prepare for these remaining games like they are finals. [LNB]"It won't be easy, but it's important to stay involved in the Premier League." [LNB]Last night's match took a controversial twist just before half time when Portsmouth full-back Ricardo Rocha had to be stretchered off with a cheekbone injury after clashing with Malouda. [LNB]Ancelotti believes the Frenchman did not intend to harm the former Spurs player though. [LNB]"I saw what the referee saw. It was a challenge with two heads," said Ancelotti. "Malouda put his head to take the ball, and Rocha was unlucky. [LNB]"We're disappointed for him because he's injured, but Malouda did not mean to hurt him. It was an accident. [LNB]"The referee gave him a yellow card, which was right. Malouda put his head in, not his arm." [LNB]Portsmouth first-team coach Paul Groves said: "Ricardo has gone to hospital to see how bad the damage is and Avram Grant has gone with him."[LNB]Groves also confirmed that Tommy Smith went to hospital with a suspected broken nose following a challenge with Daniel Sturridge. [LNB]"Ricardo may not play again this season," added Groves. "I thought the challenge merited a yellow card but I only had half an eye on the incident when it happened." [LNB]Ancelotti, meanwhile, faces an anxious wait to see if Ricardo Carvalho will be fit for Saturday's game after he came off clutching his ankle in the first half. [LNB]"Ricardo turned his ankle," said Ancelotti. "We don't know now if it's a big problem or not." [LNB][LNB][LNB]
