Problems: Ancelotti
A stunned Ancelotti admitted lambasting his
players in Italian - the language he uses when he is angry - as
they lost their 100 per cent record and let Manchester United, who
won 2-0 at Stoke, take over at the top of the league for the first
time this season.
Cech, too, was furious for getting a red card after 51 minutes
for bringing down Hugo Rodallega when the score was 1-1, but a
hard-line Ancelotti refused to blame referee Phil Dowd's decision
for the end of Chelsea's 22-match unbeaten run which dated back to
March.
Ancelotti said: 'It was the right result, Wigan played better
than us. It was not the normal Chelsea. We are disappointed we did
not play well - but I don't know the reasons. We started well but
then we slept for the first goal.'
Chelsea's players were ordered to go out for the second half
five minutes before Wigan reappeared, with Ancelotti suggesting he
had some sharp words to say to his players. 'Today, I spoke in
Italian after the first half,' he said.
Wigan had never beaten a member of the Big Four and Chelsea
looked set to go and record a 13th straight win when Didier Drogba
cancelled out Titus Bramble's opener with his 100th goal for the
club.
But the match turned when Rodallega fell dramatically after
being caught by Cech's trailing leg as the Chelsea goalkeeper
rushed out to challenge.
Dowd awarded Wigan a penalty - from which Rodallega scored - and
sent Cech off even though it was questionable that it was a scoring
opportunity.
Ancelotti admitted it was a turning point in the game but
refused to condemn the referee. 'I hoped we could win the game when
we equalised but the match became very difficult after the penalty
was given. I don't want to comment on the referee's decision. I
don't like to do that.'
Early bath: Petr Cech argues with referee Phil Dowd
after he is shown a red card at DW Stadium
Chelsea are left counting the cost of their defeat. Cech
is ruled out of next Sunday's clash against Liverpool, Ancelotti's
first Premier League game against a Big Four rival, while there
will be tests made on Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel in the next 48
hours after they went off injured at Wigan.
Rookie manager Roberto Martinez savoured the biggest win of his
career, declaring: 'It was a complete performance and we have made
history. We had a challenge of beating a top four side after 34
attempts.
It is something to celebrate. 'We are in a transitional period,
there has been a huge turnaround in playing staff, but slowly you
can see the players gelling together.
'You can only unsettle Chelsea by keeping the ball from them,
which is what we did. In my opinion, the penalty and the red card
decisions were right.'
