Cole return boosts Ancelotti but double talk off limits

Carlo Ancelotti admits Ashley Cole’s return to fitness is a major boost to Chelsea’s double bid, but the Blues boss has warned his players not to be distracted by talk of an historic triumph.

Ancelotti has led Chelsea to within touching distance of winning the English title and FA Cup in the same season for the first time in the club’s history.

The west Londoners are four points clear at the top of the Premier League with four games to play and face already-relegated Portsmouth in next month’s FA Cup final.

Five more victories would be enough for Chelsea to do the double and Ancelotti’s hand has been strengthened by England left-back Cole’s return from the broken ankle which has sidelined him since February.

Cole has been named in the squad for Saturday’s trip to London rivals Tottenham and will start among the substitutes at White Hart Lane.

But even with the double in sight, Ancelotti does not want his players losing focus.

“It’s very easy to keep the players focused. I don’t have to work on their focus and motivation any more,” he said on Friday.

“My work is very easy, because they know what they need to do. We never speak about the double. That’s not the right way to prepare at all.

“It is not a formality we will win the title. We have to play very important and difficult games and we have to pay attention.

“Now, the title is not so sure for us. We have to fight again. We are working to win both the league and the FA Cup. We are involved in both and in a very good position, but nothing is decided.

“I’ve been working in football for 30 years and it’s never sure until you have won. For now, we’ve not won.”

If second placed Manchester United are beaten by Manchester City in Saturday’s early match at Eastlands, Chelsea will be able to go seven points clear and all but wrap up the title with a win at Tottenham later the same day.

But Ancelotti watched Tottenham kill off Arsenal’s title hopes with a 2-1 win over their bitter rivals at White Hart Lane on Wednesday and the Italian has no intention of underestimating Harry Redknapp’s side.

“We have to fight again, above all on Saturday. I was very impressed with Tottenham’s performance when they beat Arsenal on Wednesday and we have to pay attention,” Ancelotti added.

“They played very well. They will be the same on Saturday. It’s a derby again and they are involved in the race for fourth place, so we have to pay attention.

“We have prepared very well for this game. We are focused and concentrated. We want to maintain the same gap from Manchester United. But we have to be ready. It will be a tough game.”