Chelsea-Inter: Is Carlo Ancelotti's Faith in His Squad Justified?

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti promised to run a naked mile if his side made a signing in the January transfer window, which shut this week. Thankfully for all concerned we did not get the chance to see if he would be true to his word.

The Italian has repeatedly expressed his satisfaction with the squad he has at his disposal. A glance at the Premier League table seems to vindicate his confidence. The Blues are currently two points clear of Manchester United at the top, are the Big Four’s sole representative in the FA Cup, and have once again made it past the Champions League group stages.

According to many, January was to be the month where the league leaders would struggle without their African contingent—Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, and Salomon Kalou.

Rather than flounder in their absence, Chelsea flourished. Nineteen goals were scored in five games. This included seven in a simply sumptuous footballing display against Sunderland, the best performance seen in West London for years.

Speaking after that game, Ancelotti said, "That was maybe the best performance this season."

"Without the African players we maybe could have some problems, but I always said I have a fantastic squad."

But the two-legged clash with former manager Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan will be a forensic examination of the credentials of the current crop of Blues stars.

Chelsea should dispose of Milan; they have the players to do it. The make-up of this side has remained largely the same since Mourinho’s days in West London.

The likes of Petr Cech, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Essien, Joe Cole, and Drogba have experienced the pain of elimination and of course defeat to Manchester United in the final in Moscow in 2008.

The experience, ability, and attitude are all there. However a myriad of factors could ensure that it is the Italians who proceed onwards towards Madrid.

One is injuries. Chelsea have been decimated by them before and it could very well happen again.

A convincing case could be put forward that their 2006-2007 title charge was undermined by the sheer number of injuries suffered. Things reached a nadir against Liverpool in Jan. 2007 when Paulo Ferreira and Michael Essien had to be deployed as centre backs, with disastrous consequences.

Chelsea are hardly a one-man team, but an injury or two to key members of Ancelotti’s squad could do real damage to their dreams of European glory.

Another factor is the form of certain players. Drogba, Lampard, Terry and co. will have to be on their game to get past a tough-looking Inter side, who are currently eight points clear of city rivals AC. A glance into the their European past shows that at key moments form can desert the men in blue.

The limp and lethargic performances against Liverpool at the semifinal stage in 2005 and 2007 are a case in point.

And who can forget Drogba misplacing his shooting boots against Barcelona at the same stage last season? The brooding Ivorian has the potential to win ties on his own, but he can also put in performances that make it seem like he has not kicked a football before in his life. Which Drogba turns up over the two legs could very well decide who progresses.

Simply put, when it comes down to it, Chelsea can fail to live up to expectations. Heartbreak and despair has been an all too common emotion for Chelsea fans when it comes to the Champions League.

On paper Chelsea should get through to the quarterfinals and vindicate their manager, but as the oft-repeated mantra goes: football is not played on paper, it is played on grass.