Under pressure Carlo Ancelotti insists he won't quit Chelsea

FA Cup blow: Carlo Ancelotti
11 April 2012

Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he will never quit Chelsea, claiming Roman Abramovich must decide whether or not he should be sacked.

Ancelotti is under more pressure than ever at Stamford Bridge following Saturday's shock FA Cup defeat to Everton.

It left Chelsea's season in real danger of unravelling completely, with the Barclays Premier League title all but surrendered and Champions League qualification hanging in the balance.

Their only remaining hope of silverware is also the latter competition, which they resume on Tuesday night when they visit FC Copenhagen in the last 16.

Defeat in that tie would surely test billionaire owner Abramovich's patience to what could be breaking point.

But even if the unthinkable were to happen, manager Ancelotti will not jump before he is pushed.

Asked if he would ever consider resigning, the Italian said: "No, not me.

"I don't have to consider my position. It is the owner that has to consider my position, not myself."

Ancelotti enjoyed the backing of Abramovich at the end of 2010 after overseeing the club's worst run in the league for almost 15 years.

A mini-revival followed but the past fortnight has witnessed another calamitous run of results.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked two years ago when Abramovich began to fear Champions League qualification would not be achieved and Chelsea are in an even worse position now, lying fifth in the Premier League.

Winning the double in his maiden season has arguably bought Ancelotti the opportunity to try to end the club's long wait for Champions League glory.

And he maintains that, despite recent results, fulfilling Abramovich's long-held dream is still possible.

"The Champions League is not easy, but it will bring a lot of motivation for every one of us," said the Italian, who acknowledged his job would ultimately depend on improving Chelsea's flagging fortunes.

"We have to have the right pressure. We have to play against Copenhagen. We have 180 minutes to win this game."

He added boldly: "Chelsea won't go out against Copenhagen. I think we have the possibility to win against Copenhagen."

Urging his players to "stay together", Ancelotti insisted Saturday's performance against Everton was "good".

The Blues certainly wasted enough chances to win comfortably but there was also something missing from their play.

Ancelotti claimed John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien are not 100% fit and admitted only John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic are currently playing to the top of their game.

Everton had also been struggling to find their form prior to Saturday and also seemed to lose their never-say-die attitude in their previous match at Bolton.

But it returned in dramatic fashion at Stamford Bridge, with Leighton Baines' free-kick cancelling out Frank Lampard's goal in the 119th minute.

The full-back then missed the visitors' first penalty in the shootout but Everton bounced back again to win 4-3.

Manager David Moyes admitted he very nearly performed a Jose Mourinho-style celebration when Phil Neville blasted in the winning spot-kick.

"I was thinking about one of those Mourinhos you do down the touchline," he said.

"Probably making a fool of myself!"

The shootout was not without controversy, with John Heitinga deliberatly bumping into Ashley Cole as the latter walked forward to take a penalty he ballooned over the crossbar, giving Neville the chance to win it.

Moyes said: "Goalkeepers have bits of psychology all the way through, so who knows? Maybe that's the way?"

Asked if there had been harsh words after the Bolton defeat, he said: "Not harsh words, just corrective words, and really realligning what we have to do here before we try to play."

He added: "Noticably, there was a massive improvement in their attitude to do the tough things first."

Moyes admitted Saturday's win would "never make up for" losing to Chelsea in the 2009 final but hopes the omens are good for another run to Wembley.

"I don't know," he said.

"I've lost to some small clubs and the gulf was even bigger. So how could I say that?

"I hope you're right but I couldn't be sure."

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