Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti becoming the Tinkerman at Stamford Bridge

20 August 2009 12:00
When he took over at Stamford Bridge in the summer, Ancelotti had stated, to some scepticism, that there would be no first-choice XI. He would use his squad. Gone were the divisive days of Jose Mourinho's 'untouchables' - the nine players who, when fit, were automatic choices for The Special One. Mourinho even named them. Ever since Mourinho left, those players have largely remained. Rotation wasn't a subject broached by Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari or even Guus Hiddink and two of those three were afraid to make changes while the third knew his stay would be brief. Moreover none of the managers really tried to consistently enforce a variation on Mourinho's successful, if predictable, 4-3-3 formation. Related ArticlesLampard joins Chelsea top fiveSunderland 1 Chelsea 3Now, just two games into the Premier League season, Ancelotti has done just that and, after the 3-1 victory against Sunderland, he indicated that he would alter things again when Chelsea face Fulham on Sunday. 'Next match I want to change,' he said. At the Stadium of Light it was out with the diamond in midfield - which he persisted with throughout Chelsea's pre-season build-up - and in with the Christmas tree (4-3-2-1). Also out were four players who had started against Hull City last Saturday. Whisper it quietly but such bold changes smacked of another Italian at Chelsea. Claudio Ranieri, the man who Roman Abramovich inherited as manager and who was given only one season before being sacked. So is Ancelotti another Tinkerman, the nickname disparagingly attached to Ranieri who had Abramovich shaking his head in disbelief at some of his plans? Ancelotti's way of working, his track record at Milan would clearly indicate not although he has in the past, as Gianfranco Zola will testify when he worked with him at Parma, not been afraid to force players into unfamiliar roles. Zola went to the left-wing before packing it in and leaving for Chelsea, of course. At Milan Ancelotti inherited players, and had others imposed upon him by the club's buying policy, and worked out systems under which they could play. He converted Andrea Pirlo, for example, from an advanced to a holding midfielder, a deep-lying play-maker because he had a surfeit of attacker. One man's tinkering is another's rotation. And Ancelotti rejected suggestions that he had dropped the quartet of Nicolas Anelka, Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda and John Obi Mikel although the latter, in particular, has struggled to cope with the diamond midfield system. 'I changed it because I trust the players and I think we have very good quality and I want to use them all because we have a lot of matches and I want to maintain the players fresh and in condition. We don't take the risk of having injuries,' Ancelotti said which is not something Mourinho would have stated. Still with Didier Drogba as a lone striker and Salomon Kalou behind him, along with Deco, and then a midfield three of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack it was a significant change on what Ancelotti has tried to impose. Lampard, running from deeper, and, in particular, Deco, benefited. 'We changed something because Kalou doesn't stay near Drogba,' Ancelotti said. 'He is behind, in the same line as Deco. It is to have more control in the midfield. Deco is working very well and is very motivated to stay and to play because it's a very important season for him before the World Cup.' The Portuguese international had been told he could leave Chelsea earlier this summer and negotiations over a move to Inter Milan, and to join up again with Jose Mourinho, along with Carvalho took place but eventually collapsed as the Italian club refused to pay a fee and wanted to complete a player-swap deal. Deco was upset and has struggled a little as Ancelotti considered which was his best role - at the base or the tip of a diamond. Now a new one has been found for him and he flourished, scoring Chelsea's third goal and earning an ovation, when substituted, from the Sunderland supporters. 'The system is good to play because all the time we have one player more than the other team in midfield,' Deco said. 'When you have good players it's good because you have a lot of possession. But it's difficult to defend because you have to run both sides and you don't have a winger to help.' The midfielder said he is now fully committed to remaining at Chelsea and with the signs that the club is no going to recruit any more players this summer it appears he will stay. 'I know if I am fit and well, I can play,' Deco, who suffered a series of injuries last season and faded after a promising start, said. 'I just want to help the team and I think the coach trusts and believes in me. I think we have a good squad and a great team. We are strong and have experience. The club have kept all the players and it's good for Chelsea.' Now Chelsea will wait to see what Ancelotti attempts at Craven Cottage.

Source: Telegraph