It was a massive gamble, but like all the gambles worth talking about, it paid off.
On the face of it, it made perfect sense. Chelsea had demolished Aston Villa – formerly the meanest defence in the division – by seven goals to one the previous weekend, but Carlo Ancelotti’s decision not to change a winning side caused eyebrows to rise even higher than the Italian’s famously elevated one.
The reason? Didier Drogba. Or rather the lack of him.
For 69 minutes the Ivorian watched on from the Old Trafford sidelines the heaviest of the Premier League heavyweights did battle. David Haye watched on too, as the two sides traded punches, circled around each other and sized each other up. Joe Cole’s expertly taken goal had given Chelsea the advantage as the game entered its closing stages, and that was when Ancelotti revealed his sucker punch.
Drogba climbed off the bench and, 10 minutes later, smashed the Blues to the top of the table.
Okay, he was offside, but Federico Macheda – no longer Sir Alex Ferguson’s lucky charm – handled the ball for Manchester United’s consolation goal anyway, and it wasn’t just the goal that made Drogba’s inclusion important. It was his aura.
United hadn’t been able to break down Chelsea all afternoon – Dimitar Berbatov fluffed his lines on his big day – and so for them to suddenly see the fearsome sight of Drogba emerging from the horizon would have flattened United more than Haye was to flatten John Ruiz in the city later that night. It was potentially a knockout blow.
Chelsea are five games away from the title, and the confidence and belief that a win at Old Trafford will give them could be immeasurable.
Their quintet of fixtures does pose some problems – specifically at White Hart Lane and Anfield – but they’ll go in to them firmly believing that they can win. They’ve been here before, Ancelotti has been here before with Milan. It will be a familiar feeling.
Experienced title-winning teams know how to get the job done from here, Ferguson knows that better than anyone, and that is the problem facing the Scot today. Last season it was novices Liverpool who were breathing down United’s necks, edging in front of them in the race but ultimately failing to possess the required know-how and staying power to emerge victorious. Now it’s Chelsea.
There are still many players at the Blues from the back-to-back title wins in 2005 and 2006, while Ancelotti won Serie A with Milan in 2004 and has two Champions League winners’ medals. He knows what’s required in the run-in.
He might not take a chance again like he did at Old Trafford, but with everything at stake, the Italian gambler is holding all the aces.
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