Carlo Ancelotti puts on a brave face amid the chaos at Chelsea

23 November 2010 11:31
Carlo Ancelotti once admitted to lying in press conferences when it suited him and, while nobody here is suggesting that Monday's gathering was such an occasion, it did amount to quite a performance. [LNB]Chelsea's manager was impressive amid the chaos that reigns at Stamford Bridge, raising a few laughs, smiling in response to the most sensitive questions and hiding, only once, behind a director of communications who was quick to point out that the Italian could not possibly comment on how he felt about his club's treatment of Ray Wilkins. [LNB] All smiles: Carlo Ancelotti puts on a brave face while talking to the media [LNB]'An ongoing process' is working towards a settlement for a man who served the club with distinction as player and coach. [LNB]The Wilkins issue is at the heart of the matter. The madness of dismissing Ancelotti's trusted assistant in the first place; the sadness, guilt even, Ancelotti felt in not being able to save him and the disappointment and shock at how Wilkins has been dealt with since. [LNB]Shoulder to shoulder: Ancelotti makes a point to his new assistant, Michael Emenalo, in training[LNB]A pay-off has just about been agreed, but what Wilkins has found distasteful is the way the club have gone about buying his silence. 'A few grand for keeping quiet for 10 years,' was how one source put it, even if it is thought to be a fair bit more than a few.[LNB]This is standard practice at Roman Abramovich's Chelsea. Nobody leaves the Russian's employ without first signing a confidentiality agreement. But it is Chelsea's crass, off-hand manner that has so offended Wilkins and saddened Ancelotti. Even yesterday, when Ancelotti had to make sure he was on message, he reiterated the fact that Wilkins remains hi s 'friend'. [LNB]As much as Ancelotti has been undermined by the removal of Wilkins and the promotion of Michael Emenalo to assistant manager, it is the haggling that has left the former AC Milan manager questioning whether he wants to stay at the club. [LNB]JOSE'S SIX 'N' OUT Jose Mourinho has admitted he should have left Chelsea earlier. Speaking ata League Managers Association dinner in London, he highlighted the moment when he might have quit. Referring to an incident at the 2007 FA Cup final when he held up a number of fingers to indicate the trophies he had won atStamford Bridge, he said: 'When I did the six (fingers), I should have left Chelsea then. I stayed too long.' [LNB]Having worked for Silvio Berlusconi, Ancelotti is pragmatic enough to understand owners like to meddle. He just remembers AC Milan's owner as someone who applied more rationale to his decisions. Ancelotti is concerned that another ally, club sporting director Frank Arnesen, could soon follow Wilkins through the exit door.[LNB]Ancelotti said yesterday he is not about to quit. But that is a stance, you suspect, motivated more by a desire to remain with the players whose support he retains rather than an enduring affinity with his employers. [LNB]He won a domestic double in his first season and, for all the off-field madness and on-field problems, his team remain top of the Barclays Premier League despite losing three of their last four games, which he blames on the absence of key players rather than Wilkins. [LNB] Stepping up: Josh McEachran (second left) takes on Nicolas Anelka during Chelsea's training session at Cobham[LNB]He feels a sense of responsibility to his players, a desire to guide them through a difficult spell. When Frank Lampard, John Terry and Michael Essien return, they will again be favourites for the title and among the frontrunners for the prize Abramovich craves most - the European Cup. [LNB]So, with all that in mind, Ancelotti decided to say what needed to be said yesterday, calling a very public truce even if it is an uneasy, fragile one. [LNB]In the eyes of his employers, he was probably more candid than he shouldhave been. Emenalo was not his appointment, and the former Nigeria defender - recruited by Avram Grant - would not be involved directly in training until he has some coaching qualifications. On Monday he was only an observer on the training pitch. [LNB]With a Champions League match to prepare for, Ancelotti did a fine job of diffusing the situation. [LNB]'Surprised, eh!' he said with a smile and a customary raise of the left eyebrow as he entered the press auditorium. [LNB]He denied going to the League Managers Association for advice. 'These rumours are totally untrue,' he said. 'There is no reason to think about my position. (It) is clear. I am the coach and I have to train my players to maintain the team, the club, at the best level. [LNB]'This moment is not so good on the pitch and we have to do better. We have to stay focused on this. This is the problem. [LNB]'I had a lot of occasions like this in my career. The coach is in trouble when the team doesn't produce results, but this is my life and I like my life. I'm not disappointed about this. I'm disappointed because Chelsea have lost three in four games.' [LNB]In responding to the remaining questions, Ancelotti employed a delightful mixture of charm and wit. [LNB]Did he want more power? 'More power means more work,' he said before adding that he would like to enjoy another season as successful as the last. That he would like to stay 'for a long time'. [LNB]And then he requested that he conclude the press conference with a question of his own. [LNB]'Do I have to buy the newspapers tomorrow or not?' he asked. [LNB]He probably shouldeven if there's nothing in them about Chelsea he doesn't already know.[LNB] Carlo Ancelotti's uneasy truce: Chelsea board call manager in for clear-the-air talksChelsea bank on the kids as they aim to seal spot in Champions League knockout stageMikel stunned by Chelsea's fall from grace after another defeat at BirminghamEXCLUSIVE: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on the brink of quitting over Ray Wilkins treatmentCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail