Ancelotti in no rush to buy new players
November 7, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he will not be rushing into the transfer market after the club's ban was suspended on Friday.
The Chelsea coach is almost certain to be able to sign players in January with the Court of Arbitration for Sport highly unlikely to schedule any appeal hearing over the Gael Kakuta affair until February at the earliest.
The rumour mill has already been set into full motion with the Blues linked with Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero - who earlier in the week said he was flattered to be a target - as well as Benfica winger Angel Di Maria and the Brazilian play-maker Alex Teixeira.
The Blues will lose Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi to the African Nations Cup in January but Ancelotti remains confident his squad can cope without them.
Ancelotti said of the CAS announcement: "It's a decision that gives us the possibility to buy new players if it's necessary, but at this moment it's not necessary. It's a good thing for the club and the team.
"I know the best players are not available (in January). But now, for us, it's not a problem. Our aim now is to maintain these players in good condition because we have a big squad with a lot of players. I think this is our aim at this moment.
"Gael can play now and he will do so on Monday in the reserve team. Thanks to this decision we have time to look for new players. But we don't want to take a decision in this moment. At the moment, I'm very happy with the squad, these players, and it's not necessary at the moment to take new players.
"I know we will lose four in January but if we maintain the players' fitness we can have a good period without the African players.
"Now our focus is on the game on Sunday. We can buy players in January, but now we have other questions to answer. It's not important now what we can do in January.''
Ancelotti: Chelsea may not buy in January
Carlo Ancelotti claimed Chelsea will only spend in January if his squad suffers injuries after the club had their FIFA transfer ban suspended yesterday.
The Blues would run the risk of buying no new players until June 2011 if the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects Chelseas appeal against the two-window ban for the illegal signing of Gael Kakuta.
And Roman Abramovichs club could yet decide to try to land big-money targets like Sergio Aguero or Alexandre Pato in January while they have the chance.
But on the eve of facing Manchester United, Ancelotti insisted he was happy with the squad that had taken his club to the top of the Premier League and into the last 16 of the Champions League And after coaching a Milan which included 40-year-old Paolo Maldini, the Italian insisted he is not desperate to inject new blood into his ageing squad.Its a decision that gives us the possibility to buy new players if its necessary, but at this moment its not necessary, Ancelotti said.Its a good thing for the club and the team. I know the best players are not available in January. But now, for us, its not a problem. In this moment, Im very happy with the squad, these players, and its not necessary at the moment to take new players.
"I know we will lose four in January [to the African Nations Cup], but if we maintain the players fitness we can do a good period also without the African players.
I have experience not to have problems with old players. I've trained some players until theyre in their 40s, so these players have a lot of time yet.
Ancelottis Milan side twice knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League, including after a 3-0 victory in the second leg of the 2007 semi-finals. He is also the last manager to win at Old Trafford in the Champions League, in 2005.
But he reckoned Liverpools recent 2-0 win over Manchester United - and their pressuring of their midfield - was a better lesson in how to beat the defending champions.
Liverpool played a fantastic match and put a lot of pressure on the pitch, he said. Thats why they won. They didnt give United any possibility to play like they want to play.
"It was a good lesson for us because Manchester can suffer when theres pressure on their midfielders. Every team is vulnerable. There is not a team that is invincible, right?
But Ancelotti still wrote Rafa Benitezs team out of a three-team title race. I dont think it is just between Chelsea and Manchester United - I think Arsenal have good possibilities to arrive in first place, he said. At the moment you cant think Liverpool can win because Liverpool are behind.