Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has not given up on winning this year’s Premier League title, although he acknowledges his side will have to win their last nine matches to have any chance of dislodging Manchester United at the top of the table.
“We have to try to win every game,” Ancelotti said after his side ground to a 2-0 over Manchester City.
“There’ll be an international break and when the players come back, I’d like to see the same spirit and attitude.”
Chelsea have recovered from the slump in form that saw them drop from the top four, imperilling their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Nonetheless, Ancelotti’s future at Stamford Bridge is not assured.
But the manager remained upbeat after yesterday’s result, hailing the contributions of Brazilian recruits David Luiz and Ramires.
“It was a very good result and performance,” Ancelotti told reporters. “We are showing good spirit and good football and all the players are fit.
“It was important to put pressure up front and not concede. We could have done better in the final third in the first half but after the break we did better and we put the pressure on.
“Luiz and Ramires – fantastic performances and fantastic goals. Ramires, in particular. He’s improving very well.
“Luiz’s goal was a surprise. Defensively, he worked with fantastic tempo for a long time and his performance was really good.”