Carlo Ancelotti: FIFA transfer ban won't upset Chelsea's title challenge

Simon Johnson
11.09.09

CARLO Ancelotti today insisted the decision by FIFA to ban Chelsea from signing players will have no effect on their title aspirations.

Fifa told Chelsea they cannot make any signings until January 2011 after they were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Chelsea are appealing against the punishment but Ancelotti has warned their Premier League rivals that it won't send their season off the rails.

The Chelsea manager said: "I think now this is not a problem because we have a very good team, very good players and we don't need other players. For the future, we have to wait because I'm sure Fifa can change the decision.

"I was surprised because I didn't know the situation, but now I just have to think about my job and all my players.

"It's not more difficult. My job is very simple because, in this team, there is a very good attitude and mentality.

"We have arrived at a very important period for us with the start of the Champions League next week and League games beginning again tomorrow.

"In the period before us, we have a lot of matches in the Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup and it is important for us to do our best. After this period, we can know better how our season will be.

"I haven't had time to see Kakuta since the decision because he's been away with French Under-19s. But he is a very good, young player and, like us, he will hope to have a good result with the appeal."

Chelsea are confident the ban will be reduced to just the January transfer window and that they will be able to cope even though Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and Jon Obi Mikel will be absent early next year for six weeks because of the African Cup of Nations.

Ancelotti, however, will be taking measures to look after his squad to ensure they avoid any unnecessary injuries or fatigue.

He added: "We have to work to avoid injuries and to maintain the good condition the team is in. We only have one or two out and that is normal."

The club's academy has come under fire for not having produced any first-team players yet, but the Italian has spotted a number of candidates who could make the breakthrough in the next two years.

He said: "There is potential for a lot of players who can arrive in the first team, but we will take our time because they are still very young.

"They have very good quality and we will stay very close to work with them.

"I think in the next period I am sure we can put in first-team players from the academy. There is one Italian player I really like, but at the moment I don't want to say his name."

Chelsea face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow and Ancelotti will be without Deco after he picked up a calf injury while playing for Portugal in midweek.

Alex, Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira are also still out but Ancelotti dismissed reports that Yuri Zhirkov will need to have an operation on his troublesome knee injury, which has prevented him from playing a part so far this season.