Ancelotti demands more from champs Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti has warned his Chelsea stars they must develop more of a killer instinct to remain on top of the Premier League.

The other 19 clubs in English football’s top flight would be delighted to be in Ancelotti’s position at present.

Ancelotti has led Chelsea back to the top of the table just months after masterminding the club’s first ever league and FA Cup double and the Blues travel to Blackburn on Saturday with a healthy five-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.

But the Italian is increasingly concerned that his team are not performing to their potential.

The Blues had to rely on a late goal from Salomon Kalou to seal a 2-0 victory over Wolves last week and have been guilty of easing off on their opponents at times this season.

Ancelotti thinks his team will have to be more ruthless in closing out matches if they are to claim victory in the key battles against Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United.

“We have started the season well but I think we can play better because we played very well in some parts of some games but not continuously,” he said on Friday.

“We have to play 90 minutes how we want to play. We have to improve our play and our intensity.

“We can’t just play for 45 minutes like we did against Wolves. We want to play well for the whole of the match and we haven’t been able to do that so far this season.”

After a rampaging start to the season, Chelsea have spluttered in their last two away league matches.

Defeat at title rivals Manchester City was followed by a goalless draw at Aston Villa and former AC Milan boss Ancelotti admits his side must do better on the road if they are to hold on to their title.

“In the last two games away we didn’t score against Man City and against Aston Villa,” he said.

“We had a good away game in the Champions League at Spartak Moscow but it is strange for us not to score away in two consecutive games in the Premier League.

“We had a fantastic performance when we won at Wigan 6-0 but we have to be better away.”

Alex will return to the heart of the Chelsea defence tomorrow after recovering from a thigh injury but midfielders Ramires, Frank Lampard and Yossi Benayoun are still out.

Chelsea will be expected to take all three points at Ewood Park and maintain their grip on the title against a Blackburn side whose three-match winless run has seen them plummet to 17th in the table.

However, Ancelotti expects the game to be one of the toughest of the season and has warned his side that defeat could seriously affect their chances of winning back-to-back titles for the second time in the club’s 105-year history.

“It’s very important to maintain that gap on the other teams,” Ancelotti said.

“Man City, Man United and Arsenal are interested in our results and they would like us to lose some points. For this reason it will be an important game tomorrow.

“If we are able to win this game I think that we can improve our confidence and we can give disappointment to the other teams.”