Ancelotti upbeat despite loss

Manager Carlo Ancelotti thought his Chelsea side were unfortunate to go down 1-0 at Birmingham City and claimed his side deserved to have won.

Lee Bowyer struck in the 17th minute to condemn Chelsea to their second English Premier League defeat in a row and their third in four matches.

And despite seeing his side’s lead at the top reduced to just goal difference, Ancelotti was surprisingly pleased with Chelsea’s performance.

Ancelotti said: “We had a good reaction to last week’s defeat at Sunderland. We played good football and deserved to win.”

“We are disappointed about the result and we deserved the points. We deserved to lose against Sunderland but today we deserved to win.”

“To win you have to keep taking shots and Birmingham made it difficult for us with their movement. We were not concentrating for their goal and it was a mistake during the game.”

“This is football and we have to maintain confidence in our squad.”

Didier Drogba has been battling malaria, but Chelsea manager Ancelotti was impressed with how the striker played despite his health problems.

Ancelotti said: “Drogba was really different and he had a lot of opportunities. He hit the crossbar but it is important he improved his condition.”

“Ben Foster (Birmingham goalkeeper) was fantastic and saved a lot against him, congratulations to him.”

Foster, who saved brilliantly from Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Branislav Ivanovic, said: “I have never had to work as hard in any game in my life.”

“To keep a clean sheet against Chelsea is no mean feat and a lot of credit has to go to the defenders, who were excellent.”

“We were very solid at the back and we’re very happy with the three points.”