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Manager Watch: The Case For Carlo

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I really like Carlo Ancelotti. Not exactly headline news for supporters to like their manager I guess but, a bit like Ranieri really, as speculation about his job has intensified, it’s suddenly dawned on me – I don’t actually want him to go.

If I’m honest, it’s really surprised me because I wanted him at Chelsea less than anyone I know even before his appointment. I was even more surprised when he won us the double in his first season, pleasantly surprised of course and more than happy to give him the credit he was due.

This season has been a bit of a weird one – from the blistering start we had and our best attempts to capitulate mid-season, to our eventual fight back before bowing out of the race against United at the weekend – it’s been a real up and downer but whilst the players seem to have taken all the credit for the good bits, it’s Ancelotti copping the flak for the rest.

So here we are again, with the vultures circling round yet another Chelsea manager and there’s a horrible air of déjà vu about it. You’d think we’d be used to it really, I mean I know there’s plenty of supporters who would probably shrug their shoulders and welcome the next candidate – or worse still, actually want Ancelotti to go – but I’m definitely not one of them.

How many Premier League managers quietly go about their business with the same air of calm as Carlo? How many of them rise above all of the nonsense going on around them, yet still make their point heard without needing to raise their voice? Ancelotti has done that all season and it’s so subtle, it’s barely noticed.

Take his stance on referees, for example, whilst Fergie chose to publicly pile the pressure on ahead of our game, Ancelotti insisted “We can stay here a long time if we want to speak about referees. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not. We were really lucky against Tottenham Hotspur, yes, but I could  mention other times when we were unlucky, in games against Inter Milan and Manchester United, for instance. I don’t like to do this. If the referee makes a mistake, as all referees do in the world, it is normal. You have to accept that. The problem is that you either accept the mistakes of the referees or you say there is a conspiracy. There is no thought in between. You either have to accept a decision can be mistaken, or say it is a deliberate conspiracy. I am a man who believes referees make mistakes. Sometimes, when things are not good, people speak about bad decisions but it is not good to speak about the past and it is not good to speak about the referee. There is no advantage to talk against the referee. The decision is already made, so to keep speaking about it is no good. You lose energy. You have to accept all decisions, good and bad, full stop.”

So, whilst his message is that he disagreed with Fergie’s approach, he’s acknowledging refs cock-up, without actually insulting anyone – and that’s what he’s about. Think about it, who has he needed to lock horns with since his arrival? No-one, because that’s not what he’s about. Whilst some ‘big games’ produce predictable sparring matched in the press between opposing managers, Carlo Ancelotti won’t let himself get drawn in, stating “If you want to fight a war, there has to be two sides, not just one. So if one wants war and you don’t react, there is no war. I like peace. I have a very good relationship with the managers here. Really good with Ferguson, but also with the other coaches, with Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp. I’m happy for that.”

When Roman Abramovich arrived with his money, Chelsea became the club to hate overnight and for an awful lot of supporters outside of Stamford Bridge, that’s still the case – yet none of that hatred is centered around our manager. That clearly hasn’t always been the case but Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t have an ego the size of a house, he’s an honest, respectful (and respected) manager who expects the same from his team. And he seems to get it.

Whilst John Terry might have been very publicly collared in the press for his off-field antics, under Ancelotti’s tutelage there isn’t the same brash ‘so what?’ feel from him anymore and I can’t think of many managers who’d either leave Didier Drogba on the bench, or be getting the sort of performances he has done from him without guaranteeing him the starring role.

Then again, I can’t think of many managers who would have come out of Sunday’s game with so much respect either. In one breath, he was able to praise our players for the past couple of months and without anything remotely resembling criticism, gently let them know they’d let themselves down, whilst giving credit to the opposition where it was due.

Of course, he’s not perfect, like us all he makes mistakes and is open to questioning. I didn’t necessarily agree with his choice of subs at the weekend but then there’s been one or two of those occasions since his arrival – and clearly being better equipped as a manager than I, the questions I’ve asked have been answered when it’s paid off. Sunday’s probably the only real time it hasn’t paid off and it’s cost us but even then, the odd questionable sub here and there can hardly be classed as a tragedy can it?

And certainly not worth losing a job over.

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