Salomon Kalou defends Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti

17 April 2011 12:33
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti at least has allies fighting his corner after Salomon Kalou insisted the Blues are enjoying their football under the beleaguered Italian.[LNB]For only the third time since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, Chelsea appear destined to end a season trophyless, and that has pushed Ancelotti into the spotlight and to the brink of being axed.[LNB]On the two previous occasions Chelsea ended up without silverware, the managers concerned were sacked, and few are holding out much hope of Ancelotti avoiding such a fate.[LNB] Uncertain future: Salomon Kalou has defended under-pressure Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti[LNB]Last season's Barclays Premier League and FA Cup double success, in addition to Chelsea becoming the first club to score over 100 goals in a league campaign since 1963, could count for nothing.[LNB]Yet as far as the players are concerned, if Abramovich were to pay any heed to their thoughts, there appears to be feeling for the 51-year-old.[LNB]Although success and trophies are the name of the game, Ancelotti has his players playing a style of football they are ultimately happy with.[LNB]That was certainly the case at The Hawthorns where Chelsea showed their mettle after going a goal down to win 3-1 and close the gap to leaders Manchester United to eight points.[LNB]'The main concern is we are together as a team,' said Kalou.[LNB]'We win as a team, we lose as a team, and in this game we showed good character, the real face of Chelsea.[LNB]'It is the Chelsea everyone wants to see, a team that goes out on the pitch and plays hard, that plays with each other.[LNB] On target: Kalou was on the scoresheet in Chelsea's win at West Bromwich Albion[LNB]'After our defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday (in the quarter final of the Champions League) this was a good response.[LNB]'We showed that we're fighting for ourselves, for the team, also for the manager.[LNB]'It would be easy to point to someone and say it's his fault. The game is about the squad, and everyone has to be concerned about that.[LNB]'Everyone has to be professional, and when they go on the pitch to enjoy playing and fighting hard for the club and for the fans who travel far to come and support us.[LNB]'It is very important we show them respect by playing hard and giving everything we can.'[LNB]Kalou, who netted Chelsea's second after Scott Carson had parried a shot from Didier Drogba, rightly concedes the decision over whether Ancelotti stays or goes is not one the players can take.Instead, Kalou simply stated how easy it is to play under Ancelotti at the present time.[LNB]'As a player you want the team to do well, so you play with the direction the manager gives you, and right now we are enjoying,' added Kalou.[LNB]'In the first half we played with a lot of passion, even though we conceded the first goal, and I think everyone then thought it was going to be a difficult day for us.[LNB]'But we played together, and when you play like that, it is easy to win.[LNB] Blues brothers: Kalou says the whole team are united behind Ancelotti[LNB]'We now have six games to go and we have to maintain this spirit, which is the only way to qualify for the Champions League because we know everything is in our hands.[LNB]'So we have to play our part by winning our games, and it's still between the top three.'[LNB]Second or third would appear to be the best Chelsea can hope for, and with Drogba in such irrepressible form as he was on Saturday, it appears almost inconceivable they will not achieve that.[LNB]Drogba scored the first and played a significant part in the other two, with Frank Lampard adding the third, after Peter Odemwingie had opened the scoring in the 17th minute.[LNB]This was all while Fernando Torres looked on from the bench as the ?50million forward was dropped in favour of Drogba, only replacing him in the final eight minutes.[LNB]However, the Spain international appears poised to return to the side for Wednesday's game with Birmingham at Stamford Bridge, and with Ancelotti again vouching for Britain's most expensive player.[LNB]'He has fantastic support from everyone here, from the fans, the club, and from the manager," said Ancelotti.[LNB]'Sometimes he has to start from the bench because at Chelsea, as with any other team, there is competition to play.[LNB]'But everyone is confident he will score, and I think he will do that in the next game.'[LNB]  Hiddink will urge Chelsea to go Dutch as he rules out return to Blues hotseatPatrick Collins: Lampard butters up the boss that really countsWest Brom 1 Chelsea 3: Drogba leads fightback to end Roy's unbeaten runAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion [LNB]  Explore more:People: Didier Drogba, Roman Abramovich, Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Birmingham, Spain

Source: Daily_Mail