Chelsea have the personality Roman craved, insists Blues boss Ancelotti

23 December 2009 16:29
Carlo Ancelotti believes he has brought back the personality to Chelsea's team just as Roman Abramovich wanted.[LNB]The Blues sit four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League going into the Christmas programme and, although they have won just once in their last five games, the Italian insists he has restored the good times at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]That is just what the club's billionaire owner asked for when he pursued Ancelotti after Chelsea's 2008 Champions League final penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in Moscow.[LNB] Success: Carlo Ancelotti[LNB]No personality: Grant[LNB]Even less: Scolari[LNB] In his autobiography published in May this year, Ancelotti revealed Abramovich had complained that Chelsea had no 'personality' and that he 'did not recognise them'. The end result was the brief flirtation with Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari. But he was sacked in February this year when it became clear Chelsea's 'personality' had suffered further.[LNB]Now Ancelotti believes he has returned some of the swagger that Abramovich was desperate for, even though the Russian has not told him so.[LNB]'I think that Chelsea have shown a new play in the last year, and shown personality and identity,' said Ancelotti.[LNB]Goals - and bags of personality: Didier Drogba[LNB]'Sometimes we can play well. Sometimes we don't play such a good match. But every game Chelsea play with personality, with a particular system of play and, also, with a good identity.[LNB]'With Roman, I haven't spoken about this question. He will have his idea on his team.'[LNB]Ancelotti's coolness under pressure has remained as icy as the arctic conditions enveloping the country and he is so confident in his job that he does not fear the Abramovich axe.[LNB]When Scolari was removed from his position last February, Abramovich jetted in personally to sack him. The decision was taken after a particularly poor run butAncelotti is non-plussed.[LNB]'I never think that if I don't win games Roman will remove me,' he said. 'My aim is to do the best for this club, as I have done for other clubs.'[LNB]Portsmouth and West Ham provided Chelsea with stern tests during the last week and in-form Birmingham and Fulham promise more of the same stubbornness in thenext few days.[LNB]Happy - apparently: Roman Abramovich[LNB]Fulham's demolition of Manchester United last Saturday raised more than a feweyebrows among the Barclays hierarchy.[LNB]'I wasn't the only one surprised,' said Ancelotti. 'They deserved to win, played very well and stayed compact for 90 minutes. To win 3-0 against United is not easy.'[LNB]But then Ancelotti has much respect for his Fulham counterpart Roy Hodgson and knows he will face a tactical battle on Monday.[LNB]'I've known Roy a long time,' added the Italian. 'When I was assistant coach of Italy, I went to watch his training when he was coaching the national team in Switzerland.[LNB]'I stayed one week with him watching his training. He's very good putting his team in a good tactical position. They play 4-4-2, but he's a very good teacher of this system.'[LNB]Chelsea will go into the game against Fulham without the services of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.[LNB]Both are jetting off to link-up with the Ivory Coast training camp ahead of the African Nations Cup next month.[LNB]That leaves Ancelotti with youngsters Fabio Borini and Daniel Sturridge, yet to score for the club, in attack. France striker Nicolas Anelka is not expected to have recovered from his muscle strain in time to play.[LNB]But Birmingham lie in wait first and Drogba and Kalou will be available for the final time before leaving for Africa.[LNB]'Birmingham arrived from five consecutive victories and a draw,' he added. 'Above all, it's difficult to play up there. They put a lot of pressure on, and we'll have to pay attention.'[LNB] More Chelsea newsNicolas Anelka adds to Chelsea problems as striker is sidelined just when Didier Drogba heads for Africa Cup of NationsFabio Capello is on top of the world, says Chelsea boss Carlo AncelottiA trophy for Wenger, a fit player for Moyes, waterwings for Martinez, no Man Ure for Rafa and beach balls for Bruce - the Premier League Christmas wishlistSCREAMER LIVE: Mourinho pines for England - plus more from football worldCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail