Job done but boss Carlo is still not happy
APOEL NICOSIA (0) vs CHELSEA (1)
CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti slated his side’s performance for the second time in five days despite registering a crucial Champions League victory over minnows Apoel Nicosia.
The Italian coach was looking for a much improved display after Saturday’s crushing 3-1 defeat at Wigan, but was left frustrated again as the Blues struggled against the unfancied Cypriot side.
Nicolas Anelka’s 18th minute winner ensured Chelsea bagged maximum points but Ancelotti was clearly not satisfied ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash with title rivals Liverpool.
“It was a good result but perhaps not a good performance,” Ancelotti said. “We started with good control, scored a goal and we had opportunities to do quick counter-attacks after that, but we didn’t do this. In the second half it was different. We tried to control the game with possession, but we made a lot of mistakes.
“Nicosia played very well in the second half and deserved to draw this game. This is football. I’m not satisfied. I wanted Chelsea to play better and to take more control, to play with courage. But I think that, in this moment of the season, it’s normal. We have to change, for sure. We have to play better.”
In truth, Chelsea were far superior than their hosts, but had to be thankful for goalkeeper Petr Cech saving a Savvas Poursaetides effort with his legs as the hosts set up a rousing finale.
Constantinos Charalambides also headed just wide of the far post late on as Ancelotti’s men were almost made to pay for complacency.
Apoel were hosting their first ever Champions League home encounter but the party atmosphere died somewhat when Juliano Belletti ghosted past two players on the right and pulled the ball back for Anelka to break the deadlock.
But Chelsea failed to kill the game off and Apoel grew in confidence as the game went on – Charalambides slicing an effort wide while both John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho were forced into making crucial blocks to keep the hosts at bay.
Captain Terry admitted it was a case of a ‘job well done’ insisting: “It was important that we realised we went wrong at Wigan and that we responded well.”