28 December,2009 08:06 AM IST | | PA Sport
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his side are still on track to win the Premier League title despite their alarming mid-season wobble.
The Blues have won just one of their last five league games, and one in seven in all competitions, following Saturday's goalless draw at in-form Birmingham, with defending champions Manchester United chasing them in second place.
Ancelotti's side face a tough derby against local rivals Fulham today under pressure to take three points before the departure of three key players to the African Nations Cup, but the Italian coach insists his team's current form is not "a big problem".
"It's not our best moment; one victory in seven is not good for us," he admitted.
"I don't see a big problem though. I think we have some problems, because we have two players out who are very good in Nicolas Anelka and Michael Essien and we don't always play well. But not against Birmingham u2014 in this match I think we played well.
"Our aim is to win the title and we are at the top of the table at the moment. This was the half-way point in the season and we're top so that's good for us."
As for whether Chelsea can hold on and be top by the time the season ends in May, Ancelotti added: "We hope to be.
"If we do a good job and work hard like we have until now, then I think we can win it.
"It's normal, I think. In our mind it is impossible to win the title in December. You have to win the title in May and you have to be ready in May because I think it will be a long race right until the end of the season."
A difficult afternoon for Chelsea at Birmingham during which the hosts could have snatched a win had Christian Benitez's first-half effort not harshly been disallowed for offside was compounded by the late dismissal of Florent Malouda for a second booking.
Ancelotti remains unconcerned about the subsequent suspension, however, despite also being without another attacker in Anelka.
"We will put other players in on against Fulham, it's not a problem," he said. "There's no Malouda but there are other players."
