Ancelotti promises to recreate his European success as Chelsea boss
FORMER AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was anointed Chelsea manager yesterday and immediately vowed to deliver the Champions League glory the Blues so desperately crave.
Ancelotti, whose three-year contract begins on 1 July, has an outstanding continental pedigree that helped make him Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s No1 choice.
The Italian, 49, led Milan to two European Cups and is one of only six men to have lifted the trophy as a player and a manager.
The Champions League is the only trophy to elude Chelsea since Abramovich took over in 2003, and the prize that the Russian billionaire desires the most. Five managers have departed under his ownership, having experienced the intense demands of tenure at Stamford Bridge.
But just 24 hours after announcing his departure from Milan, Ancelotti insisted he could handle the expectation level and declared his intention to make Chelsea kings of Europe for the first time.
“There will be the same pressure because Chelsea are a great team in Europe. They want to win all the competitions,” said the 26-times capped former Italy midfielder, who succeeds temporary boss Guus Hiddink.
“For me, the Champions League is a beautiful sensation because when I played I won two times in 1989 and 1990 and it was a fantastic achievement. And it was the same as a coach in 2003 and 2007. Champions League, for me, is the best competition in the world and all teams want to win it.”
Chelsea have come desperately close in recent years, only losing the 2008 final on sudden-death penalties, but Ancelotti added: “Five semi-finals in six years is a beautiful score but now we need to win.”
While his credentials are without question, doubts have been raised over his ability to adapt to managing in a foreign country, and the linguistic barriers that go hand-in-hand. But Ancelotti, speaking in broken English, insisted improving his communication was a priority.
“For me it is not easy,” he added. “I want to learn, I want to improve and when we start the new season I want to speak well because it is important to speak with the players, the team, the assistant and the people who will work with me.”
Dialogue will be helped by the presence of Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins, who played for Milan during the same era as Ancelotti at Milan and is set to form part of his backroom team. Ancelotti is thought to want to bring his former No2 Fillipo Galli but Milan are keen to retain him under new boss Leonardo.
Abramovich is also thought to have explored a world record deal for Milan’s Brazil superstar Kaka. The Italians accepted a bid from Manchester City in January and, amid rival interest from Real Madrid, general manager Adriano Galliani admitted yesterday they could not afford to reject huge offers. “We’ll try to resist the assault from European clubs who have more money than us,” he said. “But there is an uneven playing field.”
CV CARLO ANCELOTTI
June 10, 1959: Born in Reggiolo, Italy
1976: Signs professional terms with Parma.
1979: Joins Roma, where he wins a Serie A title and four Coppa Italias.
1987: Joins AC Milan and helps the club win back-to-back European Cups (1989 and 1990) and two Serie A titles, before retiring in 1992.
1995-96: Takes up first coaching post with Reggiana, leading the club to promotion to Serie A before leaving to join Parma.
1998: Joins Juventus, leading the side to consecutive second-place finishes and an Intertoto Cup.
November 2001: Appointed manager of AC Milan, winning the Champions League in 2003, Serie A title in 2004 and reaching the Champions League final in 2005, eventually losing on penalties to Liverpool. Gained revenge over the Reds in the 2007 final in Athens.
2008: Pressure mounts after a third successive year without a league title and Milan fail to qualify for Champions League.
May 31, 2009: Milan narrowly qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the season but has his contract mutually terminated.
June 1, 2009: Joins Chelsea on a three-year contract.