Chris Hatherall
MANCHESTER UNITED fans still coming down from the high of a weekend in which their title dream was all but secured should consider the real consequences of Chelsea’s draw at Stoke.
On the face of it another missed opportunity by Carlo Ancelotti’s side, which leaves them 11 points behind United and almost certainly out of the title race, was positive news for the leaders who are now stronger favourites than ever to regain the championship.
But the flip side of the argument is that having finally been given a convincing reason to give up on the title, Chelsea will now pour every ounce of their energy, spirit and concentration into winning the trophy that owner Roman Abramovich really craves; the Champions League.
Whether that will have any effect on Wednesday’s quarter-final at Stamford Bridge is hard to tell; but it certainly cannot lessen the desire of the men in blue and could have a much bigger influence in the second leg at Old Trafford on April 12.
While United cannot afford to drop points at home to Fulham in the Premier League next weekend, Chelsea’s game against Wigan has become if not an irrelevance then at least a secondary priority for Ancelotti who can afford to rest his more important players in preparation for a trip to Manchester.
Bear in mind, too, that Chelsea already have revenge on their minds as they think back to the Champions League final of 2008 when John Terry’s missed penalty cost them a chance to win the trophy for the first time and ultimately handed it to United.
“We know it’s important for us to win this title. It’s not an obsession but it’s a dream,” said the Italian who, with the league shackles off, is now able to admit he was brought to London because of his expertise at winning a competition that owner Abramovich regards as essential for the development of his club. And Ancelotti, who won it twice at AC Milan and reached the final on a further occasion, is regarded as the man to deliver the Holy Grail.
“It’s my favourite trophy,” he said.
“The philosophy of this club is to have the Premier League and Champions as the same importance. But we know now the league title will be very difficult. To win the Champions league would be special; I won it before and it’s a fantastic feeling. For this club, obviously, it would be important because it would be the first time. But it’s not so good to speak about this at the moment, for superstition. We have to wait.”
Ancelotti rates his victory over Liverpool in the 2007 final in Athens as one of the most satisfying of his career, coming as it did two years after letting a three-goal lead slip against the same opponents in Istanbul; and the message he is sending to his Chelsea players is destiny can play a part in their tournament this season, too.
“The result could define our season – not 100% because if you want to win a trophy then it’s not enough just to beat Man United. But it will be important. The defeat in Moscow could be good motivation. This could be destiny. It could be the real time that Chelsea do something in the Champions League.”
Manchester United fans, currently inhabiting cloud nine, you have been warned..
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/31UI5aXlxdQ/post.aspx
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