Carlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea could find it difficult to create chances at Manchester United on SaturdayCarlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea may may struggle for chances at Old Trafford
Chelsea currently trail United by one point at the top of the table, but they would return to the summit if they can beat the reigning champions for the third time this season.
However, Ancelotti has yet to take his Chelsea side to Old Trafford and admits it will be difficult for his players to take control of the match.
"We want to play our football and we want to keep control of the game but it will be difficult," he said. "Manchester United want to do the same. They play at home and they will want to keep control of the game.
"This is the fight we will face. United don't give a lot of chances to the opponents to score. They are very compact and able to counter-attack.
"I have played against Manchester United a lot of times in the past so I know Sir Alex Ferguson's team very well.
"He is a very good coach. Also this year they had a lot problems, they were without Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the start of the season but they maintained their style of play.
"They have a very clear identity and Sir Alex has done a great job. Everybody knows this."
Chelsea are the Premier League's leading scorers this season with 82 goals and they beat Aston Villa 7-1 at the weekend, but Ancelotti says he does not consider himself an attacking coach.
"I am Italian and the fortune of Italian football is defensively," he said. "I like balance. I am a balanced coach.
"This is our aim, to attack and play football, but the first thing is to maintain balance because I don't like to concede a goal. The easy way to score is a counter-attack. In Italy, the team that won Serie A was not the team that scored more goals. It was the team that conceded the least."
Michael Ballack, meanwhile, expects the title race to go down to the wire and has called on his team-mates to bounce back from the Champions League exit to Inter.
"We have to look forward again," Ballack told UEFA's official website. "We are still in the race for the championship and the cup and that's what we focus on now.
"The title is our main goal, but it will still be difficult. Three teams are fighting for it now. It's very tight. It will be very close until the end. I think that as the end is approaching, the more exciting it gets. I hope we will be the lucky ones in the end.
"It is something very special when you can win a league title, because it is the one that you play all year for.
"It's not only about us, the players, but the fans and everyone. This is what everyone wants and that is why we want to take it back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2006."
Ballack is also hoping that he can remain at Chelsea, possibly until the end of his career.
"I feel good here and I will try to play at the highest level for as long as possible," he said. "Tthat's my goal. Chelsea have given me the opportunity to play in a top team with top players, so I will try to be as successful as possible here."
|
