Ancelotti: Blues struggling with form
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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has urged his team to snap out of a form slump that has extended its winless streak in the Premier League to nearly seven weeks following a 1-3 loss at Arsenal on Monday.
Chelsea has not won any of its past six league matches - its last victory coming against Fulham on November 10 - to slip to fourth in the standings, a point ahead of Tottenham.
When Theo Walcott added to goals by Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute Ancelotti, who cut an isolated figure in the technical area for the entire 90 minutes, wore a bemused expression as a team of double winners crumbled in front of his eyes.
The Italian said his team had trained well during a two-week break caused by bad weather ahead of the game at Emirates Stadium.
"It wasn't enough obviously," the Italian said. "We didn't play well in this game. We were not focused 100 percent. Now we are sleeping. This is the reality of this team. We are sleeping. If you play against a good team as Arsenal, you can lose if you don't wake up."
Ancelotti was less certain when asked if owner Roman Abramovich might lose patience and fire him.
"I don't know," Ancelotti said. "He will not be happy about this moment. I have to take my responsibility. This is not a question to ask me, 'How long will he be patient?'"
More worrying was that, apart from the injured Nicolas Anelka, Ancelotti fielded a pretty much full-strength side with Frank Lampard starting for the first time since August. Chelsea, however, offered little threat with Lampard, Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien virtually anonymous.
Ruthless
While Abramovich has a reputation for being ruthless with managers, he may base his decision on the team's performance in the Champions League. It's the one trophy that Chelsea has yet to win since the owner took over.
Chelsea started the season well, with five straight wins.
But Ancelotti said a subsequent string of injuries to several key players, including John Terry and Lampard, and Drogba's bout with malaria has negatively affected his team.
"I think that we were in a difficult moment without our important players," Ancelotti said. "I think that at the time we lost confidence in our play. (But) I have confidence that the players with fantastic character, with fantastic personality can change something. I want to help them to change."
Arsenal's first victory over Chelsea for two years could have released the psychological handbrake which has slowed his side, manager Arsene Wenger hopes.
"I'm satisfied that we're in December and we're in touch with United, we are not very far away," Wenger, whose side is in the League Cup semifinals and sensing a first trophy for more than five years, said.
"I hope that the victory over Chelsea convinces them that they are on the right way and gives them more hunger to improve."
Consistency has been Arsenal's problem this season with five defeats already and Wenger is aware that all the doubts could return if they under-perform at Wigan Athletic today.
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