CARLO ANCELOTTI will rest Joe Cole and Florent Malouda for this afternoon’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Preston North End having identified the next month as key to determining the destiny of the Premier League title.
Cole, who has started three games in a row for the first time since a serious knee injury, and Malouda were instrumental in inspiring the 7-2 demolition of Sunderland last weekend but will begin on the bench at Deepdale with Wednesday’s visit of Birmingham City in mind. The England midfielder remains no nearer to agreeing new terms at Stamford Bridge, though Ancelotti is “100 per cent clear” Cole will still be at the club next season.
Chelsea will benefit from his freshness in a cluttered fixture schedule ahead, with the manager’s midfield options stretched by Michael Essien missing up to six weeks after tearing the meniscus in a knee while training with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In midweek the club slipped into second behind Arsenal on goals scored and Manchester United have an opportunity to take over the leadership by beating Hull City today. Ancelotti believes the month ahead could prove decisive in the championship pursuit.
“Arsenal have a strong period ahead – with games against Aston Villa, Manchester United, us and Liverpool – and it will be a big month in the title race,” said the Italian. “Any game can be difficult but the most important will be when we play against them on February 7th. They have a real possibility to win the title, of course. They and Manchester United have different qualities but (provide) the same difficulties. The table is very interesting at the moment because we have one point covering three teams.
“But it’s a perfect position for us to be in. To stay (joint) top of the list. We’ve been there since the start of the season. Now we’re in a very difficult period and we have to try and keep that position until the end. It will not be easy but I think we can arrive at the end of the season top. There’s far less pressure at the top of the table than for those teams with five, six or seven points less. I’d have more pressure further down the table.”
If the removal of Cole and Malouda, to be replaced by Deco and Daniel Sturridge, could constitute something of a risk given their recent form – Ashley Cole will also be absent nursing an ankle injury – then Ancelotti will retain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka at Deepdale to limit the possibility of an upset.
Essien’s injury will not alter Chelsea’s policy of not recruiting anyone during this transfer window. The club was already resigned to the Ghanaian’s absence at the Africa Cup of Nations before his knee injury.
The midfielder will, however, miss that critical game with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and faces a race to be fit in time for the first leg of the Champions League tie against Inter Milan at San Siro.
“(The scan showed) he had a tear in his meniscus and he will be out for four to six weeks,” Ancelotti said. “But we don’t need to buy. He wasn’t going to be here anyway in January. It’s not good news but I think we will do well still without him.”
Yet the club has no intention of planning for life without Joe Cole, whose current contract expires at the end of the season.
“I don’t have any news on the contract of Joe Cole but he will stay at Chelsea next year,” added the manager. “I’m 100 per cent clear. The club want to keep him and he has told me he wants to stay. He’s a very important player. It’s normal that you have a discussion about things like this (contracts). The club wants to save and the player wants to earn more money. That’s normal.”
-- Guardian Service
