All Hail Ancelotti! A Tactical Master

I felt compelled this morning to write this article in praise of the achievement of Carlo Ancelotti in winning the league with Chelsea in his first season in charge, thus breaking Manchester United's three year dominance of the title. Ancelotti is living proof that stereotyping all Italian managers into being ultra-conservative and defensive ideologists is both naive and traditionalist.

Let's look at what Ancelotti has achieved just in this season. With a squad he inherited, that hadn't won the league, or even challenged Man United effectively, for the past three years, Ancelotti has managed to lead them to victory. So really, we must put this down to his tactical savvy and managerial abilities. I mean, he hasn't exactly changed the playing staff.

So how did he manage it? Well I suppose I have to point out that surely Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and a fully-fit Rio Ferdinand would have added at least another point to Man United's total, but as the phrase goes, "there's no point in crying over spilled milk." These players were not at United, or in Ferdinand's case, injured, so Ancelotti can only beat what is put in front of him; and that he did, in some style.

Ancelotti began the season using his tried and tested AC Milan-esque formation of 4-1-2-1-2. Deco occupied the 'Pirlo role' at the foot of the midfield diamond and Frank Lampard at it's head, with  Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba leading the line. This however, did not prove to be as effective as Ancelotti had hoped and he soon scrapped his system to emloy a system more typical of this Chelsea side. Not many other managers would have the guts to put his hand up and say that his system, which, rememeber, he has won a few Champions Leagues with, wasn't working.

Deco didn't have the same 'Puppet Master' effect that Pirlo had at Milan. The forward pairing, when they played together, didn't seem to have much of an undertstanding like a Shevchenko and Inzaghi pairing. Lampard was not his usual free scoring self in this new position because, as Ancelotti realized, Lampard's goals came from arriving in the box late having come from a deep lying position.

Things were changed. Lampard played in a deeper role, and suddenly the goals started to flow. Deco was dropped for other more orthodox central midfield players such as Michael Ballack and Michael Essien among others. The system quickly became a flexible 4-4-2 which could quickly change to a 4-3-3. Drogba led the line up front, with support coming from the wings in the form of Anelka and the impressive Florent Malouda (more on him in a bit). Full backs Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic started to perform admirably in attack and also formed key parts of an impressive back four from which captain John Terry only missed one league game all year.

Chelsea become the masters of beating their closest rivals in the form of the newly disbanded "Big Four," totting up an amazing six victories from six games against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United. Chelsea also managed to score seven or more goals on no less than four occasions, culminating in the 8-0 victory over Wigan on the final day to clinch the title. Surely not the work of a defensive Italian manager.

Florent Malouda has been a revelation this season. He sign for Chelsea a few seasons back amid high expectations and on the back of a big reputation. he never managed to settle in to the team and stamp his authority on games. he could never hold down a permanent starting place. That is, until Ancelotti came in. Malouda became one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the league. For a player to make such a turnaround in form is quite astounding and must be credited to Ancelotti's tremendous man-management. How did he do this? If I knew that, I'd be managing in the Premier League!

Add to this the goals and sheer brilliance of Didier Drogba, whom i dare not forget. His excellence was no more nor less than what we've come to expect from him this year. (I do wish he would give up the play acting though!)

This was not a season without upset. The revelations about John Terry's private life and the personal issues with him and Wayne Bridge looked certain to knock the Chelsea train off the tracks, and under another manager this may have happened. Ancelotti though, with his cool persona simply kept his poker face on and kept his cool. Again his man-management speaks for itself here. Not only did Ancelotti manage to help Terry to regain form, he ensured that he would finish the league season with the cup held aloft as Captain of Chelsea Football Club.

I think it cannot be questioned that the credentials of Carlo Ancelotti speak for themselves and the proof is in his success. With the FA cup final coming up against relegated Portsmouth, Chelsea and Ancelotti look set to do the double. This is an achievement that I cannot praise any higher. Congratulations to Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea on a remarkable victory that saw them lead from the front for 31 of the 38 match weeks this year. As a Manchester united fan, here's to hoping he doesn't stick around too long!