• Premier League

Ancelotti plays down United's title credentials

ESPN staff
December 30, 2010
Carlo Ancelotti's side have struggled in recent weeks © PA Photos
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Carlo Ancelotti has played down Manchester United's title chances by urging his Chelsea players to ignore how the Red Devils are playing.

Chelsea snapped a six-game winless run by defeating Bolton on Wednesday, leaving them four points behind table-topping United, who have played a game less.

Ancelotti is adamant that the deficit does not represent an insurmountable hurdle due to the "very difficult" nature of the Premier League this season.

"We don't have to look at United," he said. "This is a very difficult championship because every game can have a difficulty. It's a Premier League with a lot of balance, so nothing is decided now."

On Chelsea's winless period - their worst run for 11 years - Ancelotti insisted it was "normal" to go through such a difficult spell. "It's a hard period. That's normal," he said. "It was a very difficult period. We have to keep going now. We have to maintain good focus on our training and on our games."

Despite his bullish outlook, Ancelotti has not ruled out the prospect of bolstering his ageing squad when the transfer window opens in January, with a defender thought to be the top priority.

"We didn't speak about this but we have one month," he said. "[If] we need to have some players, I said a lot of times that we are able to do it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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