DownSwinging.com

Former AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti has just signed a three-year contract to manage west-London club Chelsea.  Ancelotti brings an impressive resume from the San Siro; taking Milan to three Champions League Finals (winning two), and one Serie A title.  While I find it to be a very unsurprising appointment, I wonder if Ancelotti will fare any better than Luis Scolari did just a year ago.  While Ancelotti is far more experienced in the realm of club football, one has to wonder if anybody can withstand the quick trigger finger of Roman Abramovich.

Ancelotti has been wanted by Chelsea’s executive staff since the departure of Jose Mourinho in the fall of 2007, however it has taken him consecutive, disappointing seasons to lure him away from Milan.  The new manager has named the Champions League to be his top priority, a tournament Chelsea has yet to win in the club’s history.  Ancelotti has 2-3 years to win major trophies with the current squad, as there is a large portion of the Chelsea team who are over 30.  Notable names include: Frank Lampard, 30; Michael Ballack, 32; Didier Drogba, 31; Ricardo Carvalho, 31 and Nicolas Anelka, 30.  With the spine of the starting 11 included on that list, Ancelotti will either have to facilitate a passing of the torch to players like Saloman Kalou and Jon Obi Mikel, or buy in the transfer market.  The latter seems to be a much more viable option for the Italian.

Some sources claim that Ancelotti has up to £100 million to spend this summer while others claim that less is available.  Either way we will see Chelsea competing for top talent like we do every summer.  Without a doubt Chelsea will be competing in the Champions League 10 months from now; let’s just hope Carlo Ancelotti lasts long enough to be there when it happens.