Source: Daily_Mail
Title jig for Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti after closing in on title glory
Joe Cole had Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti dancing for joyyesterday as the midfielder boosted his World Cup hopes with the goalthat has seemingly set his team on course to their first title since2006. [LNB]Victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford sent Chelsea twopoints clear of Sir Alex Ferguson's team at the top of the PremierLeague, while Arsenal's 1-0 win over Wolves moved them within a pointof United. [LNB] Deft destroyer: Joe Cole's back-heel puts Chelsea into the lead and perhaps on their way to the title[LNB] CHELSEA FC: All the latest news from across the webManchester United 1 Chelsea 2: Didier Drogba's controversial winner gives Blues a title tonicChelsea, it's your title: Angry Fergie admits defeat as Blues punish UnitedMANCHESTER UNITED FC: All the latest news from across the webCole, 28, who is out of contract at the end of the season and says the club have withdrawn their offer to him, produced his most decisive performance since returning from nine months out with a knee injury in September. [LNB]He opened the scoring after 21 minutes of the match billed as the Premier League title decider when his deft back-heel beat Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. [LNB]Cole's turn of form may even persuade Fabio Capello to restore him to the England squad, having previously overlooked him because of his lack of playing time at his club. [LNB]Manager Ancelotti has been reluctant to start Cole until recently but insists the player will stay at Stamford Bridge. [LNB]Yesterday the Italian acknowledged that Cole was returning to his best form. [LNB]'His goal was the key to the result and he was up and down against Patrice Evra all afternoon,' said Ancelotti. 'He is fit now and he only needs to regain his confidence. He played some fantastic balls this afternoon and was good against Aston Villa last week.' [LNB]We've done it: Carlo Ancelottidances with delight after Cole's goal[LNB]Cole's goal was followed by Didier Drogba's strike on 79 minutes and despite a 81st-minute reply from Federico Macheda, United were unable to match their title rivals. [LNB]But the game was marred by poor refereeing, with Drogba's goal clearly offside, Macheda benefiting from a handball as he turned the ball past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and a number of apparently valid penalty appeals failing to impress referee Mike Dean. [LNB]But while angry United manager Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the officials, Ancelotti, perhaps unsurprisingly, was not concerned. [LNB]'It is only an offside if the assistant referee raises the flag and it is only a penalty when the referee blows his whistle,' he said. 'I don't want to speak about the referee or else we can speak about the penalty Saloman Kalou didn't get against Inter Milan.' [LNB]Ancelotti did, however, pay tribute to man of the match Florent Malouda, who was a constant threat to United. [LNB]'He was fantastic,' said Ancelotti. 'He has superb quality. He created a fantastic assist for Joe Cole's goal and he is a very important player for us.' [LNB]Ferguson laid the blame for the defeat squarely at the feet of Dean and his officials for allowing Drogba's goal to stand.[LNB] 'When I saw Mike Dean I was worried,' he said. 'I cannot understand the goal.The linesman is directly in front of him. There is no one near him and there is not a defender in sight, yet he still gets it wrong. [LNB]'Really, in a game of that magnitude you really need quality officials. We did not get them today. It was a poor performance.' [LNB]Arsenal kept their title hopes alive when a late strike by Nicklas Bendtner gave them victory over 10-man Wolves. [LNB]Manager Arsene Wenger said: 'This keeps us right in the title race. We kept going, didn't make a mistake and got a deserved victory against a resilient Wolves team with a great goalkeeper. [LNB]'It would have been finished if we hadn't won. You know that if you are five points behind Chelsea with five games to go you can forget it. With three, it is feasible.' [LNB] CHELSEA FC: All the latest news from across the webManchester United 1 Chelsea 2: Didier Drogba's controversial winner gives Blues a title tonicChelsea, it's your title: Angry Fergie admits defeat as Blues punish UnitedMANCHESTER UNITED FC: All the latest news from across the web[LNB] [LNB]
