Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the ageing players at Chelsea are responsible for the club’s dip in form, and not manager Andre Villas Boas.
The Portuguese coach is under immense pressure to turn the outfit’s fortunes around, after losses to Arsenal, QPR and Liverpool in the league have them ten points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Meanwhile in Europe, a draw against Genk and defeat to Bayer Leverkusen means that qualification to the Champions League knockout stages is not guaranteed.
Despite this, the former Blues boss feels it is the ‘old’ players who are to blame, not the manager.
“Villas-Boas cannot work miracles. This is an old team now,” the Italian told Mirror Football.
“It is exactly the same team as the one I left, with the exception of Juan Mata and Raul Meireles.
“The problem is not Villas-Boas, it is with the team that he has. Andre is young and inexperienced, but he has done well and he is talented.
“I feel Roman (Abramovich) needs to give him time to sort it out and make his ideas work.
“The problem is in the organisation and with the players – all the things that they have to change to make it better.
“Maybe he does lack experience. But they knew that when they appointed him. He needs time,” Ancelotti concluded.
Chelsea beat Wolves 3-0 in their last game, and now travel to take on Newcastle on Tyneside this Saturday.
By Gareth McKnight
Football News 24/7
Leave a Comment