• ‘It was the poorest we have played under me’ • We were too soft, says Chelsea manager

Carlo Ancelotti denounced Chelsea’s second-half performance as the “poorest” of his tenure as the Londoners’ group stage stuttered to a conclusion with a sloppy 2-2 draw against Apoel Nicosia.
The Premier League leaders conceded their first goals at Stamford [...]

• Decision to make three half-time substitutions backfired• Manager also chose Gaël Kakuta to take decisive penalty
Carlo Ancelotti accepted responsibility for Chelsea’s shoot-out Carling Cup defeat at Ewood Park, not only defending his weakened team and bizarre decision to use all three substitutes at half-time, but stressing it was his decision to ask Gaël Kakuta [...]

• Porto, Arsenal, Manchester City and Blackburn all loom• ‘It’s a challenge title-winning teams rise to’ says John Terry
John Terry says Chelsea can illustrate their intent to win trophies at home and abroad over the next 12 days, as they embark on a sequence of four important away matches and the captain believes that their [...]

Just when Chelsea’s power appeared to be waning, Carlo Ancelotti has restored the invincible aura of old.
Chelsea must appear to Manchester United as a Terminator rolling out from under a blazing oil tanker, shoving an eye back in and remounting its Harley Davidson with shotgun primed. The old aura of power and indestructibility is returning.
The [...]

• Suspension of transfer embargo provides safety net• Blues will not spend lavishly in January

Carlo Ancelotti will dip into the transfer market during the midwinter window in January only if injuries to key players leave his squad depleted. The Italian was speaking after the Court of Arbitration for Sport froze Fifa’s 12-month suspension on Chelsea [...]

The striker’s return to form has coincided with his calmer manner, on and off the pitch
Carlo Ancelotti was offered a portrait of Didier Drogba at Cobham yesterday that, judging by his perplexed expression, he simply did not recognise. It was that of a moody, volatile troublemaker, all frenzied complaints, wild eyes and pumping veins. A [...]