Ancelotti: It is too early to discuss changes

(GSM) – Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes it is too early to think of this summer’s changes at Stamford Bridge. However, the Italian tactician maintained that there will be changes come the summer transfer window.

The Blues fell short in their quest for UEFA Champions League glory as they were dumped out in the last 16 by Inter Milan this week. It is thought club owner Roman Abramovich will have to finance summer moves for the Blues to bring in fresh talent.

The Russian owner was at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground on Thursday but Ancelotti insists his visit was not to discuss their plans for next season.

“Roman was here yesterday and spoke with me and the players,” Ancelotti confirmed.

“He came here to support us because he knows football very well and he knows that we are still involved in important competitions, so I think his presence here was very good.

“We didn’t speak about the future, about the changes for next season, because it’s not the right time to speak about this.

“I said we have important games in the next week and we have to stay focused – all the players and all the club.”

“Roman was disappointed and he’s the owner of a club that’s out of the Champions League,” he said.

“Everyone was disappointed. We didn’t play like we wanted but I have trust in these players.

“It can happen that, sometimes, when we are not able to do what we want, but its nothing else.

“It’s normal that, with a new season, there are new faces. But I have fantastic, professional players and we will have a very good reaction.

“We’ve done very well this season, we’ve changed something by putting a different identity in the team.

“Now we have to be strong, sure, and maintain good control of our emotions, but the players have good quality to do this.”

Chelsea are now left to focus on their domestic challenge as they trail Premier League leaders Manchester United by just two points with a game in hand and face Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals as the club eyes its first-ever couple.

“We have to look to the next game,” he added. “We have 10 or 11 matches left until the end of the season and, after them, we’ll have a lot of time to speak about the future of this team.

“Now I want to think about this team. I want to put this team in the best position until the end of the season. We have to look at the Premier League and the FA Cup.

“This is not an easy moment because we are out of the important competition, the Champions League, and we are disappointed about this.

“But we can still have a fantastic season. We are involved in two important competitions so, after this disappointment, we need to have a good reaction.

“Our destiny is in our own hands. If we win every game, we will do the double. That’s very difficult, but we can try to do this.

“Only six teams have won the double in 140 years here in England. It’s not easy, but we that’s our aim.”