Carlo Ancelotti dismisses rumours of his departure from Chelsea
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has said there is no substance to press speculation that the Italian would be leaving his post prematurely.
League leaders Chelsea suffered their fourth domestic defeat of the season on Saturday 20 November, losing 1–0 away to Birmingham City.
The result allowed Manchester United to move within two points of the team at the top of the Premier League table.
After the game, reports in the press held that the Italian had contacted the League Managers' Association (LMA) to consult the body on his position, but on Monday 22 November, the manager dismissed the reports as false.
"I didn't call the LMA," Ancelotti said at a press conference ahead of Chelsea's Champions League fixture against MSK Zilina on Tuesday 23 November. "They called me [Sunday] night when I was relaxing at home, just to find out what was going on. There was,
last night, an LMA dinner with the coaches and they wanted to know about these rumours. I said to them that this is totally untrue. I read in the papers that I called them. That's untrue. I didn't call nobody."
Ancelotti added that he is fully committed to Chelsea, where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup last season, his first in charge of the team.
"I have my contract until 2012, here, in this club. I've said a lot of times that I'd like to stay here. I love not just this club, but these players. I have a lot of confidence in these players, in this squad, so there's no reason to change my ideas."
Previously questioned at AC Milan
It is not the first time the successful manager has his credentials questioned.
After his appointment as manager of AC Milan in 2001, Ancelotti was criticized by Silvio Berlusconi, the club's owner, for employing overly defensive tactics.
Ancelotti then made some crucial readjustments to the team, allowing midfielder Andrea Pirlo more offensive freedom and opting for out-of-favour goalkeeper Dida to become his first choice.
The changes led the team to two Champions League victories and one Serie A title before his 2009 departure to Chelsea.
"Obviously I am under pressure because I'd like Chelsea to win every game, but I am focused on my job to make us play better than we are at this moment."
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