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December 3, 2009

Carlo's 'Indestructibles' in ominous form

Posted by Rebecca Lowe on 03/12/2009

The ESPN cameras travel to Eastlands on Saturday for Manchester City against Chelsea and, without a doubt, the visitors from London already have the look of champions. Someone spoke about them recently using the word ‘indestructible’. Arsenal were once ‘The Invincibles’ and now Chelsea seem to be ‘The Indestructibles’.

I think that their defeats earlier in the season - to Aston Villa and Wigan - were possibly the best things that could have happened to them. You kind of got the feeling that, before that, they were starting to believe their own press a little bit and their defence was looking a bit shaky. Since those defeats, it has been back to basics. That is what I have been told by Carlo Ancelotti himself - that he has gone back to basics with the defence. Since that Villa defeat, they have been fantastic and haven’t conceded a goal in the past five league games. I think you do win the league if you are the best of the best and it certainly looks that Chelsea are that team at the moment. They have all the hallmarks of champions.

I don’t think that they will be unduly worried about being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Blackburn. Obviously they never want to lose because it stops their momentum, but it was on penalties, so it officially goes down as a draw. They will be saying that it was a draw and that penalties are a lottery and I don’t think they will be worried at all. I don’t think being knocked out of the Carling Cup will have any effect at all on Saturday and I fully expect them to perform as we have seen in the past ten weeks of the Premier League.

I really like Carlo Ancelotti. I really warmed to him the first time I met him. His English is still improving and when I first interviewed him, for the Burnley game on August 29, he was still quite unsure about the language. I think the problem with that is, when a player or manager isn’t confident with the language, they are concentrating so hard on getting it right that their personality is kept behind. They can’t possibly have a more interesting conversation so they just try to get the crucial points across. I think he sometimes comes across a bit dour and doesn’t smile very much, but I do think that is down to the language difference because I am told that he is not like that in real life. As the season goes on, and he gets more comfortable in the role, I think we will see what kind of man he is, but I found him a real gentleman and it was an honour to interview a man who has won the European Cup as a manager and as a player.

Ancelotti’s opposite number, Mark Hughes, secured a win over Arsenal on Wednesday night and that will lift some of the pressure off his shoulders. The 3-0 win took the club into their first domestic semi-final since 1981 but, while we say they beat Arsenal, Arsene Wenger naturally played a very young team in the Carling Cup and I don’t know how much you can really draw from it. City should be winning 3-0. It has taken pressure off as on paper it is a good result, but the real test will come in the next few weeks and starting with Saturday’s game at home.

A few months ago people were saying this fixture could be a game between the first and second clubs. That isn’t the case, but I spoke to Nigel de Jong on Thursday morning and he thinks that City are as good as Chelsea. They have got to prove it.

Actually, City deserve a lot of praise for only losing one game in all competitions - and that was to a last-gasp Michael Owen goal in the Manchester derby - and they can’t win every game. The expensive recruits have only just met each other, relatively speaking, so I really think that they will improve - they just need time. I hope the team and Hughes get that because nothing successful is built on rash decisions.

Do you want to ask ESPN's Premier League co-host, Rebecca Lowe, any questions about life behind-the-scenes at England's elite clubs or any wider issues affecting the game? Leave all your comments and queries below and we will ask Rebecca a selection of the best in the next few weeks.

Comments

Posted by exxille on 03/12/2009

The draw at Blackburn and a defeat at Eastland will blow their cofidence, hard. It will interesting to see how they'll recover.

Posted by blueman5 on 03/12/2009

Even if the Blues lose this weekend there is still a gap between them and the rest of the crowd, sure it might damage their confidence but losing in the Carling Cup might have fired them up a bit. There is a ruthlessness in this team that didn't exist before and I think with horrible defending Man City is prone to doing this will be 3-1 to Chelsea.

Posted by Max Lugger on 03/12/2009

As good as Chelski?? Im sorry, but they haven't the record or players to prove such an absurd proposition. They haven't a world class player except perhaps Robinho, who wants to leave, in their entire squad. Chelsea have world class players at keeper, defense, midfield, and a beast up front. Plus they have been here before. 2-0 Chels.

Posted by Blackmere on 03/12/2009

I don't think the loss at Blackburn is going to put a dent in their confidence. They were playing subs, an injured Kalou, and Hilario in net.

With all do respect to Hilario, if Cech had been in net the game probably wouldn't have gone into overtime. Although it's pointless to talk in hypotheticals.

Regardless, getting knocked out of a tournament is bound to rattle some players but certainly not enough to bump them out of the premiership or champions.

Posted by Joel Shumaker on 03/12/2009

Hey Rebecca,

to all those who predicted Liverpool would usurp Manchester United and take the EPL title this year, what can you say to sum up their season thus far? Is there reason to believe the Reds are facing a serious decline? We already see financial trouble, board-room trouble, potential trouble not qualifying for the Champions League next year, outcries against Rafa, trouble with injuries. Taking those problems and their potential implications into account, can you tell me what you think its going to take for Liverpool to return to glory?

Posted by Brian on 03/12/2009

Odd article other than getting all dewy eyed over Carlo. Chelsea lost but you say it doesn't really mean a lot and City won and that apparently in your mind didn't mean much either. So where does that leave us?

I think it well might matter, perhaps Terry amd Lampard will quit running off at the mouth "warning" the rest of the league about how wonderful they are. No question they are having a good season thus far but the league is far from over.No offence to Blackburn but as much as Chelsea may claim it didn't matter to lose to them, you can bet they are an embarassed bunch for losing to what they so obviously felt were an inferior team to them.

City can take a huge leap in confidence by virtue of their win and the excellence of the goals they scored. A good goal is a good goal regardless of the opposition. They will be buoyed by the win after all the draws and if they can keep their new found confidence and self belief Chelsea could well be beaten.

Posted by Nures Kara on 03/12/2009

It's amazing to see some fans and especially the so-called soccer journalists like Rebecca talk about Chelsea being "Indestructible". They barely won against a Man United team missing their top two defenders and only won on a questionable foul by Fletcher, and the referee and linesman missing Drogba's blatant pull down of Wes Brown, freeing Terry for the winning goal.
Man United showed Chelsea they are going to give up their title easily. Remember all you so-called soccer journalists - the season ends in May!

Posted by Otto on 04/12/2009

I can't wait for Tommy Smith to eat his words again, same goes to exxile.Because it is going to be a rout . Citys' weakness is goign to be exposed on saturday.

Posted by sammysounder on 04/12/2009

The Invincibles did not lose in the league. The current Chelsea crop is very good, but does not merit comparison. They've already lost twice and we're not even halfway through.

Posted by Dan on 04/12/2009

Exxille you are a drop kick. No team managed my Mark Hughes will beat a team managed my Ancelloti. Chelski to win by 2

Posted by levendi on 04/12/2009

Long way to go yet, and they certainly didn't have an indestructible look against so-so Blackburn in the quarters of the Carling Cup losing on pens....so let's not give them the silverware just yet