Champions League exit could help us – Ancelotti

(GSM) – Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes the Blues’ UEFA Champions League exit could help them in their title race. While Premier League champions and leaders Manchester United and third-placed Arsenal are still fighting for Europe’s premier club competition, Chelsea have already crashed out.

The Italian tactician insists that his rivals’ European mission could twist the title race in favor of his team. Although Ancelotti concedes his side’s early European exit had a negative mental effect on his squad, he believes that Europe will demand a lot of energy from both Arsenal and United.

“I agree with Arsene,” said Ancelotti. “Mentally, it wasn’t good for us to go out of the Champions League.

“But after the victory against Portsmouth, this moment is finished. We have to look at every game. We play Aston Villa tomorrow and then have a week to prepare for Manchester United.

“That could be an advantage for us. Before, we had midweek games. We are disappointed to be out of the Champions League, but it could be an advantage.

“The quarter-finals will take out a lot of energy, not only physically but mentally. We can take advantage of that if we prepare well our own games, and if we play with good tempo, a good high tempo.

“The pressure is the same for all the teams now. We are arriving towards the end of the season and every game is very important. The pressure is normal at this stage of the season.”