Carlo Ancelotti was given a reminder of Chelsea's recent decline when banners appeared outside the club's training ground demanding the manager resign.
Carlo Ancelotti was given a reminder of Chelsea's recent decline when banners appeared outside the club's training ground demanding the manager resign.
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Ancelotti is one of several Premier League managers whose position has come under scrutiny and the midweek defeat at Wolves piled on the pressure with Chelsea now lying fifth, nine points behind leaders Manchester United.
The Italian conceded after that game that his side's title ambitions have all but evaporated, adding to the importance of Sunday's FA Cup third round tie against Ipswich at Stamford Bridge.
The Championship club will arrive in west London led by caretaker-manager Ian McParland who has taken charge following the dismissal of Roy Keane 72 hours before the clash.
Prior to Chelsea's alarming dip in form, this tie would have been seen as nothing more than a routine obstacle to be negotiated at the start of the club's attempt to defend the trophy for a second successive season.
Now, though, Ipswich will travel hoping to take advantage of the hosts' anxieties while for Ancelotti and his players, it is a game they simply cannot afford to lose.
The manager laughed off the banners -- which read 'none of you are fit to wear the shirt' and 'Ancelotti and Abramovich out' -- but made no attempt to disguise the need for victory.
"Was there only one banner?" Ancelotti asked when told about the protest. "If only one there's no problem!
"The pressure is the same as Italy. Outside training it's different because in Italy lot of pressure from the fans. You saw outside just one person not happy. In Italy it would be different, Can find 1,000 people outside the training ground not happy. It's difficult to fight with 1,000 people. With one we can manage."
And he added: "The most important thing is to stay compact and together and I can see everybody doing their best to move on quickly from this moment.
"The problem is not relationship with club. owner, players. The problem is that team not doing well.
"We have stayed long time in difficult moment and lost confidence. This is the problem. We have to stay focused on that.
"I have spoken with staff to try to find solution. The solution is on the pitch, not outside the pitch. The support of fans is important but most importance to find solution on the pitch and we're trying to do something different.
"We have obviously to make this change quickly. Not because the club will not give support to me but because want to stay involved in every competition.
"It's good to play FA Cup because have good memory of the competition and won it last year. It can help to play good match and win and have more confidence."
Ancelotti is expected to field a strong side with Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien facing late fitness tests.
Keane was dismissed after 20 months in charge at Ipswich, paying the price for his failure to keep them away from the Championship relegation zone with Town currently sitting 19th.
Former Derby and Wigan manager Paul Jewell is expected to be named as his successor but the appointment is unlikely to be concluded before the meeting with Chelsea.
"We're in a private process at the moment and that process will come to a conclusion as soon as it can be," said Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg.
"We're looking to move things forward and I'm not going to put any particular time frame on it. Realistically I think it would be unlikely to be before the beginning of next week."
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