Ancelotti: Winning title would be huge

ESPN STAR

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed retaining the title with Chelsea this season would be the greatest achievement of his career.

The Blues' worst slump in the top flight for almost 15 years has seen them blow a five-point lead to lie fifth, nine points behind Manchester United having played a game more.
Ancelotti has refused to surrender the title completely but claims Chelsea overhauling such a points deficit and all four teams above them would rank even more highly than his two Champions League triumphs with AC Milan.
"Yes, it would be fantastic. It wouldn't be easy to do that, but we can try," said the Italian, who believes it could take as few as 80 points to win the title this season.
"We needed 86 points to win it last year. This year, the team will need less. 80 points is enough."
Even so, Chelsea would need to win at least 14 of their remaining 17 games to reach that target, and Ancelotti added with a hint of understatement: "It'll be tough."
While retaining the title could be beyond them, it is unthinkable Chelsea will fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Yet, the same could be said for Liverpool last term when they finished seventh.
Then-manager Rafael Benitez promised a top-four finish just over a year ago and ended up with egg on his face and ultimately his P45.
Ancelotti was not about to fall into the same trap.
"I don't like to promise because I have to stick with that promise," he said.
"I don't want to bet because I don't like to bet, but we have the possibility to stay in the top four."
With Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked just under two years ago when owner Roman Abramovich began to fear Chelsea would not qualify for the Champions League, Ancelotti knows his double win last season will count for little if he fails to finish in the top four.
"It would not be good to be out of the Champions League," he said.
"For us, one of the most important things is to stay in the first four places in the table.
"I don't want to speak about financial reasons, but about the motivation of the players, the club, the manager.
"We have to play the Champions League."
Ancelotti spoke over the telephone this week to Abramovich, who is obsessed with winning Europe's premier club competition.
"We didn't speak about that," he added.
"We're not considering being out of the top four.
"I don't think it's impossible - we have to pay attention - but we didn't speak about it."