Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti feels the Blues should retain older players
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted there were no plans underway at Stamford Bridge for a summer clear-out, denying previous reports that the Blues were planning a mass evacuation at the end of the season.
Chelsea have been accused of having an ageing squad one too many times and that is thought to be the reason for their failure to win a trophy this season.
The Blues started the season on a high note having won the domestic double, the English Premier League and the FA Cup in Ancelotti’s first season at the London club. However, they suffered their worst slump in over 15 years which saw them exit the Carling
Cup, FA Cup and lastly the UEFA Champions League. They also failed to retain their spot at the top of the English Premier League table.
The Blues are currently at third place on the Premier League table, nine points behind league leaders Manchester United with a game in hand and two points behind second place http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-Maseru-c38430. Among other things, the squad has faced much criticism for being unable
to retain their Premier League and FA Cup titles and more importantly win the coveted European Cup.
This has led to countless rumours, according to which, most of the senior players at Chelsea would be leaving at the end of the season. That includes strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paulo-Ferreira-c29445.
Apart from the fact that they are old, the above mentioned have not been in the best of form this season.
That has cast doubt on the future of many other players such as skipper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Salomon-Kalou-c32266. If all these players leave, then the Blues would have to go on a spending
spree in the summer transfer window to replace them. Ancelotti did not feel that was necessary.
The former AC Milan boss felt that the spending in the January transfer window would be sufficient for next season. He said while speaking to reporters, “I don't think there will be a lot of changes during the summer because we bought very important players
in January, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Luiz-c10542 and Torres. I don't think we need to have too many more changes.”
Ancelotti insisted he felt the ageing stars still had a future at Stamford Bridge, despite being linked with a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 exit. He said, “After 30 years old, you can use your experience to maintain yourself at the top level. I think that football is not just
physical, it's not just technical. It's experience, ability to manage yourself, to be professional.”
The Italian manager felt the players who had crossed the 30 year mark were useful to the club because of their experience and intelligence. Ancelotti continued, “When you increase your age, your professionalism improves every time - if you are intelligent.
I think that this club has very intelligent players.”
However, the decision of which players to retain might not be up to Ancelotti since the manager will most likely be leaving in the summer. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has reportedly already started searching for replacements for the Italian, the likes
of Pep Guardiola, Harry Redknapp, Marcello Lippi, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho have been linked with taking over at Stamford Bridge.
Tags: