History Says Ancelotti May Struggle To Secure League Title

There is no doubting that Carlo Ancelotti is one of the finest coaches in the world today. His exploits with AC Milan are legendary, having led the club to numerous honours including two Champions League titles (2003 and 2007), one Scudetto (2003-04), a World Club Cup title (2007) and two UEFA Super Cups (2003 and 2007). A fantastic record I'm sure you'll agree. However, is Ancelotti as good as his record suggests?

Ancelotti's record clearly shows that when it comes to winning cup titles there are few, if any, better than he. However, what his record also shows is that when it comes to winning league titles, the Italian tactician has often been second best, and on more than one occasion. One wonders are the same cracks now showing at Chelsea?

In his first season as a top flight manager, Carletto, as he was affectionately known as in Italy, led a highly talented Parma side to an impressive second placed finished, the highest in the small clubs' history. Though it was a phenomenal start to the young tactician's coaching career, it was not long before another one of Carletto’s sides would fall short, yet again, of a league title.

For after his success with Parma, the ex-Milan player took the first opportunity to join a big club as he took over the reins at Juventus and led them to two consecutive second placed finishes, one very unlucky one in 1999 and then again in 2000. It was whilst at Juventus that the ex-Milan player started to earn a reputation for being a good coach, but not quite good enough.

Despite his failings at Juventus, Milan lured their former player to the San Siro where of course he would go on to make history. As mentioned before, the history Ancelotti made at Milan was built upon his sides' incredible success in the Champions League and other Cup titles and not on domestic league success.

For in his eight seasons with Milan he only managed to win the title once, in 2004. Only on two other occasions did Carletto’s Milan come close again to winning the Serie A as they finished second in both 2005 and 2006 (though 2006 second placed finished was rescinded due to Calciopoli).

Such a record suggests that the Ancelotti misses something when it comes to securing league titles. Though admittedly, more than once has plain luck deserted Ancelotti’s teams in their bids for domestic league title success.

In 1999, his Juventus side were forced to play their final title-deciding fixture against Perugia on a pitch that was so flooded it was virtually unplayable.

The following year, Carlo’s Juventus finished the season on great form, winning their last five matches but were unfortunate as Capello’s Roma matched their impressive form to secure the championship instead.

In 2005, Milan’s failed bid under Ancelotti to retain their Serie A title was mainly due to Milan’s lost to Juventus in round 35, played when the teams were level pegging.

From an historical perspective, Ancelotti’s teams over the years have tended to lose their way at some point in their bids for league success, whether it was due to bad luck, an important loss or controversial circumstances.

Following Chelsea's Champions League defeat to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, Ancelotti did brilliantly to steady the ship and seemingly put things right for the Pensioners. But one thing has stood out on the Blues all season, their lack of mental strength to take the league by the throat and win when it was most needed. One win last weekend against Tottenham and the title would have been theirs for the taking.

Chelsea’s inability to have all but secured the premiership, or at least extinguish the hopes of Manchester United, is an all too familiar failing of teams led by Carlo Ancelotti.

For Chelsea, perhaps their loss to Spurs was a sign that things might not work out for Carlo and his side. Perhaps luck is again deserting Ancelotti at the most crucial stage of the season as not only did his Chelsea lose last weekend, but United were very lucky to be able to take full advantage of this with a very lucky win against Manchester City.

It remains to be seen whether the former Italian international can steer the Blues to the title, this weekend represents a golden chance for his side to go one step closer to the premiership. With United playing the red hot Spurs, against Stoke Carlo has another chance to go another step closer to the titles. If the Blues fail to do so, then it might yet again end up being another failed bid for a league title by an Ancelotti-led side.