Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he has brought back personality to his team

Carlo Ancelotti believes he has brought back the personality to Chelsea's team just as Roman Abramovich wanted

Carlo Ancelotti believes he has brought back the personality to Chelsea's team just as Roman Abramovich wanted.

The Blues sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League going into the Christmas programme and, although they have won just once in their last five games, the Italian insists he has restored the good times at Stamford Bridge.

That is just what the club's billionaire owner asked for when he pursued Ancelotti after Chelsea's 2008 Champions League final penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in Moscow.

In his autobiography published in May this year, Ancelotti revealed Abramovich had complained that Chelsea had no "personality" and that he "did not recognise them". The end result was the brief flirtation with Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari. But he was sacked in February this year when it became clear Chelsea's "personality" had suffered further.

Now Ancelotti believes he has returned some of the swagger that Abramovich was desperate for, even though the Russian has not told him so. "I think that Chelsea have shown a new play in the last year, and shown personality and identity," said Ancelotti.

"Sometimes we can play well. Sometimes we don't play such a good match. But every game Chelsea play with personality, with a particular system of play and, also, with a good identity.
"With Roman, I haven't spoken about this question. He will have his idea on his team."

Ancelotti's coolness under pressure has remained as icy as the arctic conditions enveloping the country and he is so confident in his job that he does not fear the Abramovich axe.
When Scolari was removed from his position last February, Abramovich jetted in personally to sack him. The decision was taken after a particularly poor run but Ancelotti is non-plussed.

"I never think that if I don't win games Roman will remove me," he said. "My aim is to do the best for this club, as I have done for other clubs."
Portsmouth and West Ham provided Chelsea with stern tests during the last week and in-form Birmingham and Fulham promise more of the same stubbornness in the next few days.

Fulham's demolition of Manchester United last Saturday raised more than a few eyebrows among the EPL hierarchy.
"I wasn't the only one surprised," said Ancelotti. "They deserved to win, played very well and stayed compact for 90 minutes. To win 3-0 against United is not easy."

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