Blame game: Ancelotti was unhappy with
Webb
Chelsea
manager Carlo Ancelotti broke his own code of not
criticising referees as the pressure of the title race showed for
the first time since he arrived at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti blamed referee Howard Webb for two ‘important
mistakes’ as Chelsea slumped to their third defeat of the season at
Manchester City and
saw their lead at the top of the Premier League cut to two points
by Manchester United
who were convincing winners at West Ham.
His reaction was completely at odds with what he had said after
suffering his first defeat at Wigan earlier in the season, when
they lost 3-1. On that occasion, he refused to condemn Phil Dowd
for sending off keeper Petr Cech, declaring: ‘I don’t like to speak
about the decisions of the referee.’
Ancelotti was less reticent after seeing Chelsea’s lead from an
Emmanuel Adebayor own goal cancelled out first by Adebayor’s
equaliser, which cannoned into his path off the elbow of Micah
Richards, and then a Carlos Tevez free-kick which was awarded for a
challenge by Ricardo Carvalho on the striker.
Ancelotti said: ‘We were disappointed because the referee made
two important mistakes. I think Richards did handle the ball before
the first goal and, in the second situation, I think it was clear
that Ricardo Carvalho took the ball cleanly.
‘I’m surprised because I consider Webb a fantastic referee with
experience. I was surprised with his two mistakes.’
Ancelotti, however, believes there is no need to panic, despite
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men now breathing down their necks following
their 4-0 victory at Upton Park. ‘We lost the game but deserved to
draw,’ said Ancelotti.
‘City played very well and made it difficult for our midfield to
play, but we had an opportunity at the end to come back and
draw.
‘We don’t need to have a big reaction. The team is in a good
place and we played well. ‘We can stay relaxed because we are top
of the league by two points. We don’t have any reason to be
worried.’
Chelsea had six players booked including their entire back four,
but Ancelotti said: ‘We didn’t lose our discipline. ‘We had to
attack at the end and sometimes got caught out at the back in
one-on-one and, in those situations, you can get yellow cards.’
It was a miserable return to Eastlands for England and Chelsea
skipper John Terry, who was sent off in the stadium last season. He
turned down a move to City in the summer and was jeered at every
opportunity by the home fans.
He was booked for a foul on Tevez and limped off towards the end
with a knee injury, leaving the stadium on crutches.
Take that: City boss Mark Hughes clashes with Chelsea
counterpart Ancelotti
Ancelotti said: ‘There is no problem. John Terry took a
knock on the knee. He should be okay this week.’
Despite his comments about the referee, Ancelotti found it
within himself to praise Manchester City, saying he regards them as
future title challengers.
They moved above Liverpool to sixth
in the Premier League, with a game in hand.
He added: ‘They will do better in the future because they have
very good players.
'I don’t know if they can win the league this season though, I’m
not a magician.’
