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Ancelotti still hunting title with Chelsea

Chelsea are still chasing the title under Carlo Ancelotti © Getty Images

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Carlo Ancelotti declared Chelsea could complete a sensational late comeback in the Premier League title race if Manchester United lose two more matches before the end of the season.

But the Blues boss admitted his own side also needed to win all five of their remaining games to retain their crown.

Ancelotti said: "To win the title we'll need less points than last season. We won it with 86 last season. Now, with 80 points, United can win the title. They need ten points.''

He added: "In football, I learned that everything can happen in the game right up to the final whistle. You can win the title in the last minute and you can lose the title in the last minute.

"If we thought that one month ago we'd have a little chance to come back to fight for the title, I think that everyone could have said we were crazy.

"Now we are happy tonight because we've reached second place. We await to see what happens in the next five games.''

Winning the title would surely make owner Roman Abramovich think twice about sacking the Italian, who was widely considered to be a dead man walking at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League.

Asked if he felt his job would be secure if he masterminded such a comeback, Ancelotti said: "Questions with 'if' are not good. At the end of the season, we will have a big press conference, a strong and tough press conference.''

Ancelotti left Fernando Torres out of the side tonight and was rewarded as Florent Malouda scored twice and Salomon Kalou once, while Didier Drogba also ran Birmingham ragged.

Hailing his front three, Ancelotti said: "Drogba, Kalou, individually, there were a lot of good performances. A lot of midfielders played really well.''

Admitting Drogba was back to his best after malaria laid him low towards the end of last year, Ancelotti added: "He has a strong personality. He knew that, with malaria, he didn't play his best.

"I think that now he's fit and he's showing fantastic quality. In one season, problems like Didier had can happen. We couldn't do anything about this. Now we have to be happy to see him playing fantastic football, but forget the past.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.