Carlo Ancelotti Must Learn Quickly to Succeed at Chelsea

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Ancelotti will need to do better than Scolari in those departments to survive. He has to make sure his English is good enough first, as communication on the training pitch and in the dressing room is vital to get across tactical ideas. Those ideas will need to be adapted to the pace and intensity of the Premier League of course. There were never any Stokes or Boltons in Serie A. These first few months are all about learning.

One thing Ancelotti already knows though is Chelsea’s utter desperation to win the European Cup. After reaching the semi-finals in five of the last six seasons and not winning it once, the likes of Lampard and Terry are still hurting inside.

Ancelotti can be the one to bring them the glory they so desire, though. He has won the European Cup twice with AC Milan, and reached another final, which they famously lost to Liverpool in 2005, so he knows how European football works.

And though the main aim at Chelsea will once again be to lift the Champions League, and though Ancelotti has mainly been brought in to do just that, the Italian cannot lose focus of the Premier League. Scolari lost his way domestically and was out the door, never getting a chance to pursue those continental ambitions.

If Ancelotti adapts more quickly than Scolari, then he should not suffer the same fate. With great European tactical nous, the Italian certainly has plenty of tools in his locker. But facing English opposition is a totally different ball game. As well as challenging on domestic fronts, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal will also battle Chelsea for European honours. Ancelotti must learn to deal with them if he is to go down in history and fulfil Abramovich’s dream

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