Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti moved to quash rumours about his future on Monday, saying he had no intention of quitting the club despite coming under pressure following his team's dip in form.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti moved to quash rumours about his future on Monday, saying he had no intention of quitting the club despite coming under pressure following his team's dip in form.
British media widely reported that the 51-year-old Italian was on the verge of leaving the Premier League champions but Ancelotti emphatically denied having any such intention as he spoke at a media conference before Chelsea's Champions League match against Zilina on Tuesday.
These rumours are totally untrue, he said, "I don't know why these rumours came out today in the papers. I have a contract here until 2012, I would like to stay here, I love this club and these players, I have a lot of confidence in the squad. Obviously I am under pressure because at a team like Chelsea we want to win every game, but I am focused on (getting) my team to play better than we are doing at this moment."
Media reports described Ancelotti as unhappy and isolated at Stamford Bridge following the sudden departure of his assistant Ray Wilkins two weeks ago. Wilkins was replaced by Michael Emenalo, the club's former opposition scout.
Chelsea have lost three of their last four League games and their 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City on Saturday meant that they had lost consecutive Premier League matches for the first time in more than four years.
The Londoners remain top, level with Manchester United on 28 points but ahead on goal difference.
Reports on Monday suggested Ancelotti, who joined Chelsea from AC Milan last year and won a League and Cup double in his first season in England, had consulted the League Managers' Association about his position.
"I didn't call the LMA," said the Italian. They called me last night when I was relaxing at home, just to find out what was going on. There was last night an LMA dinner with the coaches and they wanted to know about these rumours. I said to them that this is totally untrue...I read in the papers that I called them. That's untrue."
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