Ancelotti unflustered by changing times at Chelsea

If Carlo Ancelotti has been left shaken by the upheavals at Chelsea during his few ten weeks in charge, he is doing a very good job of disguising the fact.

The Blues coach has given the impression it is business as usual as he prepares his side for a meeting with London rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday that could extend Chelsea’s perfect start to the Premier League campaign.

Five successive wins have already positioned the Italian’s side at the head of the table and laid down an early marker in their title battle with Manchester United.

And he has remained unruffled by FIFA’s impostion of a 16-month transfer ban on the club and the sudden departure of chief executive Peter Kenyon.

Ancelotti insists his focus remains solely on team affairs even though he could never have imagined he would find himself fending off questions about the club’s internal affairs when he moved to England from AC Milan in July.

And his main concern is negotiating his first major London derby against Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, who impressively won their first four league games before suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of United in their last outing.

“I know the rivalry between the two teams and how important this match is for the fans,” Ancelotti said. “We have to pay attention to this and we want to win.

“I saw Tottenham’s last games and they have started very well. For me it was a surprise, they played very well against Liverpool and Manchester United.

“They lost that game but they have good style and quality players. In attack, Jermain Defoe is a very dangerous striker and Aaron Lennon is a very quick player.

And he added: “I have never seen an unbeatable team, and Chelsea are not unbeatable. But we are doing very well at the moment.”

Spurs can draw strength from the fact they beat Chelsea last February at White Hart Lane, although it is 19 years since they last won at Stamford Bridge.

“We haven’t taken too many points off them at Stamford Bridge in my memory, so for that reason alone, this is going to be another tough game,” said Tottenham captain Ledley King.

“We know Chelsea’s players well enough and we’ve all seen their quality. It’s always a tough game against them,” he said.

“But we have done well against them in recent games and they will be aware of our qualities as well.

“However, we take one season and one game at a time. This is no doubt one they will want to win, being at home.

And he added: “Four wins from five games is a good start for us. We’re disappointed with the last result, but Sunday is a chance for us to strike back in the best possible way against another top team.”

Ancelotti will resist the temptation to bring back England international Joe Cole for a game that would pit the midfielder against the manager who gave him his first break at West Ham.

Cole has been a long-term casualty with a knee problem but, like Portugal defender Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Yuri Zhirkhov, he will be eased back into action against QPR in next week’s League Cup tie.

But Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, both suspended from the mid-week Champions League victory over Porto, will return for the Blues.

Redknapp faces a decision over whether to recall keeper Heurelho Gomes in place of former Chelsea shot-stopper Carlo Cudicini, while captain Robbie Keane will either fill the left flank position or partner Defoe up front.