EPL News: Carlo Ancelotti explains Wilkins departure as Gerrard attributes surge in form to takeover
Chelsea’s manager Carlo Ancelotti has come out and praised Wilkins for his contribution to Chelsea F.C as the assistant manager departed from the London club after he was told that his contract with the Blues will not be renewed for the
New Year. Ray Wilkin’s departure came as a surprise at the club which currently holds the English Premier League title as Ray was in Chelsea’s dugout for their one goal win over Fulham. 24 hours later, Wilkins had parted ways with the club in quite an un-sanctimonious
manner.
Ancelotti spoke to the media on Friday as he said, "I want to say one thing. Ray was a fantastic assistant coach - I want to say thanks to him because he was a fantastic support last season and this season. He did a fantastic job and helped
me and all the team to win the double, so the first thing is to say a lot of thanks to him. He is my friend, I have a fantastic relationship with him and I will have a fantastic relationship with him. He knew very well English football and has a lot of experience
as assistant. His job he did very well.”
Explaining Chelsea’s decision to refrain from offering a new contract to Ray Wilkins, Ancelotti remarked, "The club made this decision, I think it was a difficult decision for everyone but I have respect for this decision. I have trust
in all the staff working with me, and now we have to move on. We have to look forward, stay focused on the next game because it is an important season for us and it is important to move on. I spoke with the players to tell them the club made the decision,
but as I said before we have to move on and stay focused. The players are in focus and will continue to stay focused."
On the other hand, Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s club captain attributed the club’s rise in form to the new owners at Anfield. John Henry’s company NESV took over Liverpool after a long and tedious court case which eventually resulted in
a change in club’s ownership. The club’s previous owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks fell out of favour with the supporters at Anfield and also ruined the club in financial terms. Liverpool only managed to finish at the 7th place in
the 2009-2010 Premier League, this season under Hodgson, Liverpool have recovered well after a faltering start to the 2010-2011 league campaign.
Liverpool’s midfielder has been accused recently of a fall in form but the new owners and the new atmosphere at the club has also galvanized him and the rest of his team mates as Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four league matches.
In their mid-week fixture, Liverpool only managed to draw against Wigan Athletic but last weekend they defeated Chelsea at Anfield by two goals to nil.
Gerrard told the media, "I think it helps. Listen, everyone wants to go onto the football pitch with everything right off the pitch and Liverpool had a hard 12 months with what's been going on off the pitch. We certainly wouldn't use it
as an excuse for results on the pitch but it is nice and refreshing to know that we're in safe hands now, everyone wants to move the club forward and everyone can concentrate on the football and on making headlines on the back pages rather than the front."
Liverpool face Stoke City on Saturday as Gerrard stated, "At the beginning of the season our target was top four and that hasn't changed, but at the moment I don't want to get carried away. We are still in a position in the league we are
not totally happy with so we need to keep this run going and see where it takes us."
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