LONDON (AFP) - Carlo Ancelotti has rubbed salt into Manchester United's wounds over their controversial defeat at Chelsea by suggesting Arsenal are just as big a threat to his side's Premier League title ambitions.
Chelsea's 1-0 win, sealed by John Terry's late header, allowed Ancelotti's men to open a five-point lead at the top and left his United counterpart, Sir Alex Ferguson, once again aggrieved over his side's treatment at the hands of a referee.
While Ferguson admitted his side now face a tough task in attempting to close the gap on a Chelsea squad that is becoming as rich in confidence as it is in experience, Ancelotti was quick to underline the unexpected vibrancy of Arsenal's challenge as a reminder of the dangers of complacency.
"If Arsenal win their game in hand, they will be within two points of us," he said when asked to speculate on whether the title race was now a two-horse affair.
"I think also Arsenal is doing very well.
"A five-point lead is important, but at the same time, not so important. We have 30 points in 12 matches but we know the season is very long. We have to stay focused."
Chelsea fans' optimism that Ancelotti could emulate Jose Mourinho in wresting the Premier League trophy away from Old Trafford will have been encouraged by the fact that, three months into his first season in England, the Italian has now master-minded wins over both United and Liverpool.
"That is important," Ancelotti said. "But we lost against Wigan and Aston Villa. This means every game is the same. It is always three points and we have to maintain concentration against Manchester United, against all teams.
"It was very difficult to beat Manchester, the match was very balanced for 90 minutes and it was difficult for both teams to create chances to score. Sometimes we lost with the set plays, this time we won."
The set play that decided Sunday's match was a 76th-minute freekick awarded to Chelsea after referee Martin Atkinson -- mistakenly -- judged that Darren Fletcher, who had been outstanding for United, had fouled Ashley Cole close to the left touchline.
Frank Lampard's inswinging delivery was glanced into the net by Terry, although Nicolas Anelka also celebrated as if he had got the final touch.
Either way, Chelsea were fortunate to take all three points after a contest that a depleted United side had controlled for long periods, which only contributed to Ferguson's frustration over the critical free-kick.
"Clearly, Darren Fletcher's won the ball, Ashley Cole's never touched and has jumped up in the air, and then (Didier) Drogba's pulled Brown to the ground for the goal," Ferguson said.
"The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can't see anything. He's got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him and he doesn't even move.
"That goal shoudn't have been allowed. It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there. It was a bad one."
Ferguson maintained sufficient composure to acknowledge that United could only blame themselves for failing, over the course of the 90 minutes, to turn their domination of possession into better chances.
"We had great opportunities to get to the edge of the box and some really good chances in and around the box, but we should be finishing it off," the Scot recognised.
"We've only ourselves to blame in that respect. But you do need a break - and we never got the break we needed."
Ferguson also admitted that the setback at Stamford Bridge was far more significant than last month's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
"The fact is Chelsea go five points clear of us," he said. "The defeat to Liverpool didn't affect our position in the league, this affects our position in the sense that if we'd have won we'd have gone top."
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dont blame the ref..ref is a human...not perfect..sometime the decision is against u...bad luck to the man u fans coz u got so many luck in the past...man u got so many luck win in the past...hahahahaha..poor man u fan.....i think in the future we not use the ref in the field though......when u lose u always blame the ref...
You all saw what happened in the match and the bottom line is the refereeing was poor all round. Ancelotti shut your face, not interested in your boring mind games with bacon face leave The Arsenal out of it, we play our own game and wouthout spending 200,000,000 to do it.
19 - Fergie got knighted for services to arse kissing the Labour Party in Scotland not for football.
I was hoping for a draw... but there's no doubt that the ref was taken in by a blatant piece of showmanship by Cashley... Looks like he found his hidden mobile phone...
And of course Drogba was offside then Terry headed the ball and still off when it bounced of Anelka.... But that's what happens week in week out.
Refs are inconsistent. Ask the player red carded by Clattenburg this week.... last week Bentley got away with no yellows for a deliberate handball and then a late challenge from behind....
Man U and Liverpool are in the same position - they rely on goals from 1 or 2 players. Chelsea and Arsenal are free scoring from various positions. Admittedly Arsenal have only played 1 of the big clubs. In their defence, they are destroying lesser teams where in previous seasons they stumbled - West Ham excepted. The future ? Who knows except Arsenal are young, gained a lot of experience, injuries are more than covered by replacements unlike in previous campaines. The future looks bright, the futures The Gunners
Are Arsenal titles contenders?
Yes(thumbs up)
No(thumbs down)
Manchester United will still be champions come the end of the season, they have by far the best strength in depth, Chelsea and Arsenal will drop more points and Liverpool are already out of the running. United 4 in a row with number 19. Yak! yak! yak!
ha ha man U inbreeds their manager sir spamface cant take it they were slightly outplayed He got it wrong to go for a draw (only lower league teams do this kind of tactic when playing the big four) its been proven how many times you heard sunderland or wigan oh we came for a draw thats the best we could hope for fergie is losing it lol.
As for Ancelotti's other remark i trully believe Arsenal are dark horses and now the threat of liverschool has been put aside for a moment those kids have a real chance of keeping the pressure on a team i hate to admit being a gooner are doing marvellously.
I like the table it shows you one or two good things that both Man U and Liverpool HAVENT LEARNT that is if your going to get rid of your best players you eeither need the replacements there already or get them bought in and moulded before the new season starts.
in wenger we trust see you at the emirates pensioners
F**k you ferguson always blame the referee when your team defeat...This season will be Arsenal season..so you just wait and see and also just keep blame the referee
arsenal will beat chelsea at emirates, no doubt about it!
gunners all the way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! who cares about chelski scum or manu inbreds
nrewcleaver147 - you are @#$% & blind imbecile- therefore you are perfect fan for manure dirty, lieing cheating team. Your feeble mind can not comprehand concept of being right or wrong ar what football rules are all about.
Probably you never kicked ball in your life but dare to write rubbish here.
You had better better stick with cricket or just plain getting drunk in your favourite pub
truth hurts shut your fu**king mouth you dont now what your talking about ref gave the cards out not Sir alex fergurson if they where paying the refs bribes do you think we would be where we are now fifa and fa would frow the book at the club but nobody says the liverpool or chelsea or even arsenal bribs refs so just be quiet
The comments from Alan Hansena and Lee Dixon on match of the day highlighted just how badly the refferee performed in terms of denying Man Utd. Rooney one on one with the keeper early on - ruled offside but clearly on. Ashely cole bringing down Valencia - no penalty given despite it being a stone wall case. Darren Fletcher getting penalised for winning the ball cleanly off dirty diving cole - the resulting free kick saw the biggest cheat in the league, drogba, haul back Brown who would have easily defended cry baby terrys weak header and surprise surprise, the ref saw nothing. you played sh it at your own ground against us and you know it. you cheated your way to a one nil win and your plastic team go marching on to desperately buy some silverwear and try and start making some history.
I can not beleive how much is this reporter BIASED against chelsea. Yes , ref was CRIMINAL but in Man. U favour.. Ref made 5 HUGE mistake and numerous small mistakes in manure's favour - to list
- ALL yellow cards given to chelsea were WRONG 100% and not deserved
- Evans should have gotten STRAIT red card and to face disciplinary action for such harsh, dangerous & malicious tackle
- Fletcher deserved RED card also when he kicked and tackled Carvalho from behind AFTER play was stopped
- every manure player was swering and cursing at ref - he did nothing ; rules say - vedrbal abuse is punitibale by RED card..., I could go on but this is more then enough to ilustrate the point..
Furthermore, this ref has PROVEN hystrory of HELPIN man. u , in the past he was prohibited to referin manure's games for 2 YEARS for being biased and helping them, the same ref was in charge for manure game against Man. City and we all know how "well" he did for manure team
It is well known FACT that refs favour manu the most and ALWAYS halp them big time, without refs help, manure would not win 50% of their "titles" ; In first 12 games this season , refs won 5 - 8 points for man. u already,
so fergie, SHUT the Hell up already, we are ALL sick and tired of this old FOOL !
I can not beleive how much is this reporter BIASED against chelsea. Yes , ref was CRIMINAL but in Man. U favour.. Ref made 5 HUGE mistake and numerous small mistakes in manure's favour - to list
- ALL yellow cards given to chelsea were WRONG 100% and not deserved
- Evans should have gotten STRAIT red card and to face disciplinary action for such harsh, dangerous & malicious tackle
- Fletcher deserved RED card also when he kicked and tackled Carvalho from behind AFTER play was stopped
- every manure player was swering and cursing at ref - he did nothing ; rules say - vedrbal abuse is punitibale by RED card..., I could go on but this is more then enough to ilustrate the point..
Furthermore, this ref has PROVEN hystrory of HELPIN man. u , in the past he was prohibited to referin manure's games for 2 YEARS for being biased and helping them, the same ref was in charge for manure game against Man. City and we all know how "well" he did for manure team
It is well known FACT that refs favour manu the most and ALWAYS halp them big time, without refs help, manure would not win 50% of their "titles" ; In first 12 games this season , refs won 5 - 8 points for man. u already,
So fergie, you old lieing dirty SOB, STFUP, go go F@*K yourself !!!!
@hiddink - please stop posting comments before you make yourself seem really silly. fergie has been knighted, which earns the title sir in front of his name, by his proven success. his success is in both the scottish and english premier leagues, europe (his trophy count is equal to ancelotti @ 2 and more than rafa and jose who only have 1), and he has a world club trophy to add to that.
goodness me, it seems that manUre fans can't take a loss. sour grapes. it seemed that fergie and his thuggettes were still at it despite a lack of the vidic. running around kicking people and then screaming about how they didn't touch them, or how when they flop - it means something. c'mon, i seriously don't believe chelsea deserved the win, but it is hard to sit here and say that united should have won - they scored 0, count em - ZERO, goals.
Listen you stupied fu**ers The ref was in the wrong position witch lead up to the goal and cheating drogba did pull down Wes brown and the goal should not off stood you chelsea fans think man united dominated most of the game so just think your self's luck you won and the premi leauge title race is not over by far yet
I dunno it does seem Fergie has forgotten that he didnt spned the Ronaldo money. Had he then he might have a point but the fact is Man U are far from as strong as they were last season and the main reason is that they have not replaced Ronaldo in any shape or form. He was a big loss, but i believe replacable. The fact is Fergie didnt replace him with any real potency. Man U are lacking strength in depth.
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