Chelsea manager linked with Roma return
Not for the first time this season, there is talk that Carlo Ancelotti will return to Roma at the end of the campaign, however it is more likely that there is substance now with the long-term future of the Italian capital club unclear and the tactician's own prospects at Chelsea looking increasingly bleak.
The Independent report this morning that defeat in Denmark in the first leg of the Blues' Champions League round-of-16 clash with FC Copenhagen - something rated a [5.6] shot by Betfair punters - will result in Roman Abramovich asking Ancelotti to clear his desk.
Chelsea exited the FA Cup for the first time in close to three years on Saturday following a penalty shootout loss to Everton in their fourth round replay at Stamford Bridge, and the consequence is that the Champions League is the only trophy that they stand a realistic chance of winning this term.
Ancelotti spent eight successful years at Roma as a player, forming part of the team that took the Giallorossi to the top of Serie A for only the second time in their history and claiming four Coppa Italia winners' medals too, and rumours of a comeback have been enhanced by Claudio Ranieri's departure.
The former Chelsea boss offered his resignation following Sunday's spectacular collapse from 3-0 up in Genoa as they fell to a fourth consecutive loss and the appointment of ex-striker and academy coach Vincenzo Montella as his successor was confirmed on Monday.
The 36-year-old is hugely inexperienced though, so it is thought that if Ancelotti indicates that he'd be interested in moving to the Stadio Olimpico, the Montella arrangement could be a temporary one. Roma would perhaps be wise to adopt the policy regardless of Ancelotti's plans given how badly Juventus' attempts to place Ranieri with rookie trainer Ciro Ferrara in 2009 turned out.
How much longer will Ancelotti last at Chelsea? Make a prediction below...
Published: 21 Feb 2011
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