日韩午夜精品视频,欧美私密网站,国产一区二区三区四区,国产主播一区二区三区四区

 

Ancelotti says title race will go to the wire

0 CommentsPrint E-mail China Daily, April 22, 2011
Adjust font size:

Carlo Ancelotti believes the Premier League title race could go down to the final game of the season after Chelsea moved into second place with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.

Ancelotti's team sits above Arsenal on goal difference, with the two London clubs trailing leader Manchester United by six points with five games remaining.

Both of the challengers have still to face Sir Alex Ferguson's side - Chelsea must travel to Old Trafford on May 8 while Arsenal hosts the leader on May 1 - handing it the chance to deny United points.

And while Ancelotti admits the odds remain stacked against his team, he insists there could be more twists and turns before the season reaches its climax.

"In football, I learned that everything can happen in the game right up to the final whistle," he said. "You can win the title in the last minute, and you can lose the title in the last minute.

"If we thought that one month ago we'd have a little chance to come back to fight for the title, I think that everyone would have said we were crazy.

"Now we are happy because we've reached second place. We wait to see what happens in the next five games.

"We know United has to play against Arsenal. Everything is open. Obviously, I would like to be in United's position, six points ahead. That's a lot at this stage of the season."

First-half goals from Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou put Chelsea in control on Wednesday before Malouda's second of the night secured victory.

A late Birmingham penalty from Sebastian Larsson came too late to affect the outcome at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba was again preferred as the main striker ahead of Fernando Torres who was left on the bench and Ancelotti admitted the Ivorian's improved form was driving his side's late run.

Ancelotti denied Drogba had a point to prove following Torres' arrival and claims the striker's early season form suffered following a bout of malaria.

"He has a strong personality," Ancelotti said. "He knew that, with malaria, he didn't play his best. And so, I think that now he's fit and he's showing fantastic quality.

"In one season, problems like Didier had can happen. We couldn't do anything about this. Now we have to be happy to see him playing fantastic football, but forget the past."

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish believes his side now needs one more win to be assured of Premier League survival.

"I would say we need another win," McLeish said. "We'll try and get as many points in the last five games as we can."

Larsson was involved in an argument with Craig Gardner, the regular penalty taker, before taking the spot-kick and McLeish admitted he was unimpressed after being told of the incident.

"I never noticed the penalty incident," he added. "It's not normally something I'd encourage.

"When a player has been successful in scoring the penalties, as Craig has done, he should keep it. I thought he'd agreed for Seb to take it. I never saw their exchange. But he did score with a fantastic strike.

"But Gardner, I'm sure, will have a chat about it over the next few days."

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 潮安县| 石门县| 鹤峰县| 山东省| 咸宁市| 分宜县| 南昌县| 曲松县| 广南县| 拉孜县| 新和县| 商水县| 鄢陵县| 泰宁县| 沛县| 博白县| 会泽县| 河北省| 锡林郭勒盟| 启东市| 扬州市| 喀喇沁旗| 临颍县| 资中县| 修水县| 诸暨市| 柘荣县| 通州市| 阿克苏市| 新野县| 米易县| 普格县| 洪江市| 城固县| 永康市| 华阴市| 五指山市| 广汉市| 阳曲县| 交城县| 柞水县|