Chelsea Comment: Funny Man Carlo Ancelotti Is Not Taking League Cup Lightly

Italian determined to land silverware at the first time of asking...

Dec 2, 2009 1:06:52 PM

EPL: Brett Emerton - Michael Essien, Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers (Getty Images)

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EPL: Brett Emerton - Michael Essien, Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers (Getty Images)

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When did the League Cup suddenly become so worthwhile?

For years it has been the laughing stock in a limited field of English cup competitions, but as we reach the key stages of this season's tournament it has suddenly become a trophy that even the big boys want to win.

On Tuesday night, Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted as his Manchester United side marched on to the semi-finals, past a near full-strength Tottenham Hotspur. So disappointed was he in his team’s abject performance, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp refused to attend the post-match press conference.

In the night’s other quarter-final tie, Aston Villa put out a team of only moderate rotation as they disposed of Avram Grant’s Portsmouth.

Tonight, all teams involved are also hoping the adventure continues. Arsene Wenger wants his youngsters to progress, if only to prove that his methods are still the right ones for Arsenal. Standing in their way is Manchester City, who have put out their full armoury of expensive options in previous rounds as manager Mark Hughes makes a determined effort to win a first trophy at the club.

That leaves Chelsea, who have a good recent record in the competition, having won it in 2005 and 2007. Carlo Ancelotti is keen to add to that success, as it never hurts for a manager to get his first piece of silverware at the earliest possible opportunity (no, the Community Shield does not count).

"It is important for a manager to get that first trophy under his belt," Ancelotti’s assitant, Ray Wilkins, agreed ahead of the visit to Blackburn Rovers.

"Carlo seems quite determined to win the Carling Cup, so the team he puts out at Blackburn will have a lot of strong quality."

That means the Italian will only make necessary rotations from the team that romped past Arsenal at the weekend. Key players like Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole might find themselves given a rest, with the likes of Hilario, Salomon Kalou, Yuri Zhirkov, Alex and Juliano Belletti brought in as more than capable replacements.

Unlike Arsenal, for example, Ancelotti will not be using the competition as an easy opportunity to give young members of the squad experience. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t believe they have the potential to contribute in the near future.

"The academy is well," Ancelotti said.

"We have five or six players who by next year can stay in the first team. I think they have a lot of possibilities to make a career with Chelsea.

"But it depends on them. It doesn't depend on me."

In it to win it | Chelsea have breezed into last eight

The Italian confirmed that Gael Kakuta will be on the bench against Blackburn, but believes most of the winger's - and his contemporaries' - development will be done at the club’s Cobham training ground, not against bigger and more experienced opponents.

“Gael will be in the squad. You saw a snippet of him a couple of weeks ago [against Wolves].

“He is a very talented young man but obviously we have to nurture that along – as we do a couple of other very talented guys.

"Young players have to improve without thinking of playing in the first team. These players are ready to play in the first team with us, but they are not ready to play in a strong game."

And that is certainly what Blackburn will bring, especially considering the biggest absentee for them will be their manager, Sam Allardyce, who is still recovering after undergoing heart-surgery.

In his absence, assistant Neil McDonald will put out a near-full strength side in the hope of grabbing a surprise win in front of the Ewood Park faithful.

Young at heart | Kakuta might make an appearance

"Our home form since the manager arrived has been top class," captain Ryan Nelsen told his club's official website.

"If we take our chances when they come and get that little bit of luck you need on these occasions then you never know what could happen."

Nevertheless, having seen off Rovers a few weeks ago with a thumping 5-0 win at Stamford Bridge in the league, Chelsea will still be confident of finding a way to win.

That result has been just one of a number of impressive scorelines for the Blues in recent weeks. Yesterday, Wilkins put much of the credit for that recent run on the manager, revealing the esteem in which he is already held by all the players and staff.

"I've been extremely impressed from a personal point of view," the 53-year-old said.

"As a bloke, he's a really funny guy, always joke telling. I have to translate, unfortunately, if he wants to crack into something quite humorous. But he tells the players jokes and seems to enjoy their company.

In stitches | Wilkins appreciates Ancelotti's humour

“He's dealt with the players in fantastic fashion on a personal basis, and we're seeing the rewards of that out on the pitch. That humour could well be one of the reasons he's been so successful as a manager in the game.”

The players may enjoy their manager's wit at the training ground, but no doubt they appreciate he isn't joking when he tells them how important this competition really is.

Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK

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