Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid, has expressed his sadness at the current form of his former club Chelsea. Ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg between the two sides at the Bernabeu, Ancelotti reflected on his time at Stamford Bridge, where he won the Premier League and FA Cup in 2010.
The Blues are currently 11th in the league and have suffered early exits from both the FA and League Cups. They have also had three managers this season, with interim boss Frank Lampard taking over last week. Ancelotti worked with Lampard during his two-year tenure at Chelsea and is confident the 44-year-old can turn the club’s fortunes around.
The 63-year-old Italian has ruled out a second stint at Stamford Bridge himself, but believes Lampard has the experience to do well in the short time he is at the club. He said: “He was a fantastic player, extraordinary, he knows very well what can happen in these games but experience, in these matches, I don’t think counts for much. He arrived at the club a week ago, with a lot of players that he already knew. I think he’ll do well in the time that he’s at Chelsea.”
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his sadness at the current form of his former club Chelsea. The Blues are currently 11th in the league and have suffered early exits from both the FA and League Cups, prompting Ancelotti to comment: “I am sad, yes. I have a fantastic memory of this club, of the people that are still working there. I’m a supporter of Chelsea, of course, because I spent two really nice years there.”
Ancelotti has faith in interim boss Frank Lampard to turn the club’s fortunes around. The 63-year-old Italian worked with Lampard during his two-year tenure at Chelsea and is confident the 44-year-old can make a difference. He said: “I hope that Lampard is able to do a fantastic job with them. He has 20 years’ less experience [than me], but that will not change what will happen in the game. He was a fantastic player, extraordinary, he knows very well what can happen in these games but experience, in these matches, I don’t think counts for much. He arrived at the club a week ago, with a lot of players that he already knew. I think he’ll do well in the time that he’s at Chelsea.”
Real Madrid and Ancelotti will face Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday at the Bernabeu. Despite ruling out a second stint at Stamford Bridge himself, Ancelotti is hopeful his former side can turn their fortunes around under Lampard’s guidance.