Fergie revels in semi-final dominance

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with his side's performance as they brushed Schalke aside to close in on a spot in this season's Champions League final.

AssociatedRyan Giggs set Manchester United on their way to an easy victory at Veltins-Arena

• Champions League Gallery
Ferguson has not enjoyed much luck against German sides in two-legged knockout ties in the Champions League, losing all four of his previous clashes.
But the tide appears to have turned for the wily Scot, after his United side comfortably beat Schalke 2-0 to close in on a Wembley berth.
United completely ran the first 45 minutes but could not find a way past Schalke's highly-rated goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and it took until the 67th for the away side to finally break the deadlock.
Ryan Giggs, who had missed a couple of fantastic chances, was played in by Wayne Rooney and finished well before Rooney himself made it 2-0 only two minutes later.
"Our concentration, intensity and speed of passing was excellent,'' Ferguson told Sky Sports. "We had less chances in the second half but were more dangerous, when Chicharito scored and it was offside it told the players they could beat the goalkeeper.''
Ferguson also suggested the ability to name the same starting 11 that played against Chelsea in the last round was a deciding factor.
"The continuity of selection in these games gives us good experience and work-rate and I have good options with the likes of Nani, Scholes and Anderson. We have selection problems now but that is what we want.''
The United boss even went as far as suggesting he could rest key players in the return leg as the fight to win back the Premier League takes preference.
"Depending on the result on Sunday [at Arsenal] I could make two or three changes because we play Chelsea the following weekend.
"We are a bit disappointed we didn't take more chances but overall we are delighted with the performance. In the first half especially we had some good chances and we were disappointed at half time not to be in front.''
But Rooney refused to accept that United now have one foot in the final at Wembley, knowing that Schalke scored five goals in the San Siro against Inter in the last round.
"Schalke are a good team and we can't take them lightly. We need to make sure we are professional and full concentrated,'' he said.
Giggs insisted the players were confident they would be able to find a goal despite being constantly thwarted by the impressive Neuer.
"We knew that if we kept creating chances one would go in and hopefully I would get one on my left foot rather than my right,'' he said. "Before the game we would have taken 2-0 but now we are slightly disappointed.''
The Welshman, who became the oldest player to score in the history of the Champions League, also praised the depth of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad.
"We've got a tough game coming up Sunday so the manager rotated and we are obviously pleased, the lads who came on did well too so it's not just about the 11 players, it's about the squad,'' he said.

United dismantle Schalke to close in on final

Barring an unlikely Schalke victory at Old Trafford next week, Manchester United will contest the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28 after a one-sided encounter in Germany.

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Ryan Giggs slid home Manchester United's opener, making him the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history

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Wayne Rooney shows his disbelief as another chance goes begging
(GettyImages)

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Scoring Summary

Ryan Giggs and the outstanding Wayne Rooney scored United's goals in a two-minute second-half spell in the semi-final first leg at the Vetlins-Arena.
Prior to that, though, Sir Alex Ferguson's men had wasted an astonishing 13 chances to score - 11 of them coming before the break.
It left Schalke needing a three-goal triumph to progress to a meeting with either Real Madrid or Barcelona. On this evidence, United have absolutely nothing to worry about.
And for Rooney in particular, the prospect of the club's fifth European Cup final - on the ground where they won their first in 1968 - means personal redemption, having returned to the Gelsenkirchen arena where he was sent off on his last visit for England, to produce a wondrous performance that confirmed his renaissance beyond any doubt.
As United trudged in at half-time, they cannot have known whether to laugh or cry. Their pace, power and precision was simply too much for Schalke, who were opened up with a regularity barely credible at this level of the game. Incredibly though, the score remained goalless.
Starting with a Rooney effort that flicked off Atsuto Uchida and forced Manuel Neuer into the first of a series of magnificent saves, and ending with a last-minute opportunity when Giggs raced onto a Rooney through-ball and failed to beat the Germany No. 1, United created 11 clear chances.
Had they done that over the duration of both legs, Ferguson would probably have been quite pleased. To do so in a single half, and not to take any of them, defied belief.
Rooney could only have wished he was on the end of some. Instead, Park Ji-Sung had two opportunities charged down, Giggs was denied by Neuer twice and Fabio flashed a half-volley over the bar.
By far the worst culprit was Javier Hernandez. Lauded in recent weeks after a series of timely interventions which have sent United surging towards a record 19th league title, the Mexican was too much for Schalke's beleaguered defence.
For once, though, the 22-year-old had left his shooting boots at home. Whether he was being set up by Antonio Valencia, outstanding on the right wing, Rooney or Park, Hernandez just could not find the target. Partly it was his fault as shots flew wide of the Schalke goal, while on other occasions Neuer was in the way.
It appears the Germany keeper is on his way to Bayern Munich this summer, which for United is a pity, because on this evidence he would be a worthy successor to Edwin van der Sar, who is retiring at the end of the season. On a record-equalling 13th semi-final appearance, Van der Sar was a virtual bystander once he had made a couple of early stops to deny Jefferson Farfan.
Worryingly for Ferguson, the profligacy continued after the restart. Neuer denied Michael Carrick with a brilliant fingertip save but, when the Schalke defence opened up for Giggs shortly afterwards, the Welshman's effort with his weaker right foot was woeful.
There must have been a huge fear in the United camp that Schalke would soon start to show the form that got them to this stage of the competition and put five goals past Inter Milan at the San Siro in the quarter-final.
Thankfully for Ferguson and his team, they did some damage first. Rooney was the architect of the opener, threading a fine ball through to Giggs who, with his left foot, calmly slotted home.
Two minutes late, United had another chance as Hernandez set up Rooney. From 10 yards and in a similar position to Giggs, he was never likely to miss as he bagged his 14th goal of the season.
In the knowledge that a three-goal triumph for Schalke at Old Trafford in eight days' time is impossible to imagine, Ferguson's introduction of Anderson and Paul Scholes was designed purely to shore up the midfield.
It worked, too, allowing United to stroll home and let their minds wander towards Sunday's Premier League trip to Arsenal.

Evra warns against 'disaster'

Patrice Evra knows at first hand the damage complacency could do to Manchester United's bid to reach the Champions League final and he has warned his team-mates to avoid a "disaster".

Press Pass Extra: Champions League semis

• Neuer rules out United move
• Fergie: That's one of our best
• Schalke 0-2 Man Utd
• Fergie hails Neuer super-show
• Fergie revels in dominant display
• Forum: Barca or Madrid in final?
Only a heavy defeat to Schalke at Old Trafford next week can end their hopes of playing in a third final in four years after their 2-0 win over the German side in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday night.
It seems highly unlikely yet Evra knows the improbable can sometimes turn out to be possible, as his own career shows.
"In football you never know,'' the France defender said. "I remember playing for Monaco in the 2004 quarter-final and we played in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid and lost 4-2. Real thought they were going into the semi-final. They thought they were there already. But in the second leg we won 3-1 and went through.''
Evra believes that tie provides a valuable lesson and will ensure his team-mates do not get too far ahead of themselves and start dreaming of a Wembley date with either a Real Madrid side containing United old boy Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona, who gave them a footballing lesson during the 2009 final in Rome.
"We have to be as professional next week as we were last night and keep going,'' Evra said. "We have to win at Old Trafford. But I must say if we don't go through to the final now then it would be a disaster for Man United.''
Providing United retain the same mentality, Evra is certain they will make it. Certainly, there was little evidence last night of a team capable of going to Old Trafford and making a game of it, even if the 5-2 win at Inter Milan in the previous round shows what Schalke are capable of.
"We just have to do our job,'' Evra said. "We are very near to the final now but we have to complete the task we have started. I am not surprised we did well and the game was one-sided because we showed Schalke so much respect. We respected them a lot. Before the game we just said we play the semi-final and that it didn't matter who our opponents were. That was important in playing the way we did.

Barca backing Guardiola after rant

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club stand behind Pep Guardiola after the coach's uncharacteristic display of anger towards Real Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho on Tuesday.

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• Preview: Real Madrid v Barcelona
• Forum: Mourinho wins the mind games?
In his press conference ahead of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between the two great Spanish rivals, Guardiola abandoned his usual facade of indifference towards Mourinho in spectacular fashion.
His motivation was Mourinho's accusation that Guardiola had complained about referees who got their decisions right following Madrid's narrow victory in the Copa del Rey final, an accusation that drew a fiery response from the Barcelona boss.
Guardiola said on Tuesday evening: "Tomorrow at 8.45, we will meet each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he has already won. In this room [press room], he's the f*****g chief, the f*****g man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don't want to compete with him at all. It's a type of game I'm not going to play because I don't know how.
"I won't justify my words. I congratulated Madrid for the cup that they won deservedly on the pitch and against a team that I represent and of which I feel very proud. Off the pitch, he has already won, as he has done all year. On the pitch, we'll see what happens."
Whether Guardiola's response will ultimately be seen as evidence of mental disintegration or a stroke of genius to inspire his players, who drew 1-1 in the league match between the two clubs recently before losing the cup final, Barcelona have stood shoulder to shoulder with their coach.
Bartomeu has praised Guardiola for his conduct across the course of the campaign and said that it was only to be expected that he would eventually respond to such provocation from Mourinho.
"Pep has had exemplary behaviour throughout the season and now has had to respond," Bartomeu said. "Enough is enough.
"There has been [an] answer now, because they have not stopped all year while we have devoted [ourselves] only to soccer. Our coach, we would say [is] devoted only to compete, the sport, football and winning games."

ANALYSISBy Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent

If Carlo Ancelotti and Roman Abramovich had a remote control that could erase the last six months, they would be jabbing at it like men possessed. In November, Chelsea appeared to be romping away with the Premier League title - now their ambitions rest on securing a Champions League place.
It is a horrific crash landing from the dizzy heights of last year’s domestic double and the majesty of early autumn.
Assessment will now begin in earnest at Stamford Bridge and on a Monaco-moored super yacht on how Chelsea can ensure that one pot-less season is only a blip rather than the start of a Liverpool-style trend.
The January transfer window intervention of Abramovich did not have the desired effect, even if David Luiz has fitted in to his new surroundings as smoothly as Fernando Torres has not.
The football world is preparing for another blue assault on the transfer market this summer, with Abramovich ready to sanction further eye-catching additions to a squad in the face of the threat posed by Manchester City’s financial muscle, combined with the challenges of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and an improving Liverpool.
Yet it is not just the entrance door that could swing off its hinges. Chelsea reported a £70.9 million loss on a turnover of £205.8m for the year ending June 2010 and are a long way off meeting Uefa’s financial fair play regulations, which will be phased in from this summer.
The club will need to secure improved commercial deals, and possibly a new stadium too, to enter the next window with gusto and come close to breaking even, as the new rules dictate.

Roman's empire | Abramovich is preparing for a summer of big spending at Chelsea

There is likely to be the biggest shake-up of the Chelsea squad since Abramovich pitched his tent in west London in 2003 and spent £120m in the space of a few weeks on the likes of Damien Duff, Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu, Juan Veron, Joe Cole, Geremi, Glen Johnson, Scott Parker and Wayne Bridge.
There is also the question of Ancelotti’s employment beyond the end of May. Few expect him to be doing anything other than returning to Serie A in the summer, with newly rich Roma his most likely port of call.
When Abramovich and his chief lieutenants scroll down Chelsea’s first-team squad, they will view only the hard core of first-teamers as untouchable.

POSSIBLE INS AND OUTS AT STAMFORD BRIDGE
STRIKERS
MIDFIELD
DEFENCE
GOALKEEPER

Thirty-somethings John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are still regarded as bulletproof, while the team of the future will be built around Petr Cech, Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Luiz. Despite some mischievous rumours, hope will be placed in a system and coaching set-up that can wring the best out of the forlorn Torres. In any case who, given the Spaniard’s current state, would be prepared to pay even two-thirds of his £50m January fee? Yossi Benayoun and Alex are deserving of further opportunities while there will be hope that the academy graduates such as Josh McEachran, Patrick van Aanholt and Gael Kakuta can repay the faith that has been invested in them. Daniel Sturridge is sure to be welcomed back from his goal-studded loan spell at Bolton Wanderers with open arms.
There will be question marks pencilled alongside the other names. The exodus is set to be led by a string of high profile players.
Didier Drogba is no longer the cast-iron first-team starter of recent years and his unhappiness at his reduced status is well known at Stamford Bridge. Like Drogba, attacking ally Nicolas Anelka only has a year remaining on his contract although the Frenchman is a more versatile player and less high maintenance than in his stroppy youth.
The biggest name departure, given his age, could be Michael Essien, 28, whose performances have dipped alarmingly this season. There must also be doubts about the futures of John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, both of whom have been overlooked in the marquee games of the last few months.
Right-backs Paulo Ferreira and Jose Bosingwa are likely departures, while the club will also listen to offers for Yuri Zhirkov, who has been forced to find a niche in midfield because of Cole’s excellence at left-back.
Chelsea’s outgoing sporting director Frank Arnesen has been busy scouting reinforcements as Abramovich has made clear that the mistakes made last summer, when five senior players were allowed to depart and the onus placed on youngsters to fill the void, will not be repeated.
Arnesen has been quoted as saying Ajax right-back Gregory van der Wiel is “on our No.1 list”, although Chelsea will face strong competition from Manchester City. Talks have opened with ‘the new Drogba’ – Anderlecht’s 17-year-old Romelu Lukaku – and Santos playmaker Neymar. His fellow Brazilian Kaka, who has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid, has also been discussed at the top of the club as Abramovich seeks to bring greater guile to the attack.
Other targets include a capable back-up goalkeeper – Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic is believed to have been discussed – and a midfield anchorman who can carry water in the manner of modern-day ‘don’ Claude Makelele. Nigel de Jong is one player that is being considered.
The Chelsea hierarchy are aware that doing nothing is not an option. Prepare for a summer of upheaval at the Bridge.

27/04/2011 19:45 BST 03/05/2011 19:45 BST

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26/04/2011 19:45 BST 04/05/2011 19:45 BST

 

Manchester United

Usmanov won't sell to Kroenke

Alisher Usmanov has confirmed that he will not sell his 27% stake in Arsenal to prospective new owner Stan Kroenke.

GettyImagesAlisher Usmanov acquired former vice-chairman David Dein's shares in August 2007

• Supporters' Trust won't sell shares
Usmanov, through investment vehicle Red & White, has said he will not accept Kroenke's mandatory cash offer for his stake after the American triggered a full takeover when taking a 62.89% controlling stake in the club on Monday.
The Arsenal board has recommended that shareholders accept Kroenke's offer of £11,750 per share, but Usmanov is keen to retain his stake in the North London club.
"I'm not going to sell my stake," Usmanov told Bloomberg. "I love Arsenal, that's why I'm a shareholder."
Usmanov's stance means Kroenke will not be able to achieve a 90% stake in the club which would result in compulsory purchase of the remaining shares.
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust has also said it will not sell its holding to Kroenke. It was happy with the news regarding Usmanov.
A statement read: "AST welcomes Red & White's commitment to Arsenal and calls on all shareholders to work together. Their priorities should firstly be making Arsenal a successful football team.
"Secondly placing no leveraged debt on the club and no dividends or management fees that take money out of club. And thirdly their priorities should be Arsenal Fanshare and supporters being directly involved in the club's ownership structure."

Ancelotti safe for now

Carlo Ancelotti appears set to survive the season at Chelsea after the club insisted it was "business as usual'' following their Champions League exit.

Ancelotti hints at error

• Chelsea stars under threat
Speculation is raging in the English press as to who might replace Ancelotti in the Blues hotseat, with Guus Hiddink, Marco van Basten, Marcello Lippi and Andre Villas Boas all mentioned, but if a change does occur it will likely come in the summer.
Hiddink's agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen said in the Daily Telegraph that Chelsea owner Abramovich "understands" that Hiddink does not want to break his contract with the Turkish Football Federation, with the former Blues caretaker to stay on well into next season depending on results.
"Guus will respect his contract with Turkey," Van Nieuwenhuizen said. "And because the results are going the way they are it looks like Turkey will qualify for the play-offs if they draw with Belgium on June 3 and with Austria in September. If they do not qualify for the play-offs he has already said that he will go. But from a technical point of view it is not possible for him to join Chelsea right now. It has nothing to do with his relationship with Roman Abramovich, which is good, but Guus has never broken a contract and Roman understands."
Chelsea's only remaining target is to qualify for next season's Champions League, a goal Ancelotti can achieve with steady results in the Premier League, so a change now might only serve to destabilise the squad. It is understood there have been no meetings between Abramovich and board members, or between board members themselves, to discuss the manager's position.
Chelsea's quarter-final loss to Manchester United, which was sealed on Tuesday night, left them on the brink of ending a season without a trophy for only the third time since Abramovich bought the club almost eight years ago. The Russian sacked the manager on the two previous occasions and Ancelotti could be forgiven for fearing the same fate.
But a spokesman said: "It's business as usual. The most important thing is to win all the games we can in the league and qualify for the Champions League.''
Goalkeeper Petr Cech has insisted Chelsea's players are just as much to blame as Ancelotti for what could be the club's worst campaign since Abramovich's takeover. ESPNsoccernet reported on Wednesday that a number of the Blues' biggest names are under threat in the wake of their disappointment form this term.
The current season looks destined to represent a new low, with the Blues having suffered earlier-than-expected exits in every cup competition, as well as languishing 11 points behind United in the Premier League.
But while the buck may ultimately stop with Ancelotti - who did win the Double in his first season in charge last year - goalkeeper Cech has claimed everyone needs to take a look at themselves.
"We win together, we lose together,'' Cech said after what was the latest Champions League disappointment of his seven-year Stamford Bridge career. "We are on the same boat and we try to guide the boat to the harbour as safely as possible.''
Failing to keep hold of Ancelotti next season would be a mistake, according to former Chelsea captain Paul Elliott.
Elliott said: "Okay, he's picked up nothing this year, but they need to back their man. I think he's the best manager long-term. He's got the ability to manage the egos, he can manage multi-million pound players.''
Elliott believes Abramovich's patience will ultimately hold.
He added: "I'll tell you the reason I don't fear: I love the way Ancelotti handles the pressure. I think he's got tremendous confidence and, be assured, if he left Chelsea, he's only going on to better things.''

Leonardo blames fatigue for Inter slump

Inter Milan coach Leonardo insisted fatigue played a part as the defending European champions limped out of the Champions League at the hands of Schalke.

APLeonardo tries to urge on his side after Thiago Motta levelled at Schalke.

• Schalke 2-1 Inter: Report
• Champions League review
• Champions League Gallery
Inter went down 2-1 in Germany thanks to goals from Raul and Benedikt Howedes to complete a humiliating 7-3 aggregate defeat. Thiago Motta grabbed a consolation for Inter.
It completes a miserable few weeks for Leonardo, after Inter slumped to a 3-0 defeat to city rivals AC Milan before their 5-2 home defeat by Schalke in the first leg. Despite needing to score a minimum of four goals to go through, Leonardo insisted he had believed his side could do it before the match.
"I really did believe, because in the first half we took the initiative and controlled the game, but didn't have the opportunities to score," he said.
"I dreamed of a comeback and we could've done it with a goal at the start and being able to hit at the right time. Admittedly, we certainly could've done better in some situations. In the goals we conceded, especially at San Siro, we always had our defence at the ready and weren't caught on the break.
"A result like that is not only down to one thing. There were other factors that penalised us. There is disappointment and that is difficult to control. I think the team used up a lot of energy in these last few months, both in Serie A and the Champions League. We arrived at the decisive moment with problems."
Leonardo did bring Goran Pandev on for Dejan Stankovic at half-time, but Esteban Cambiasso warmed the bench all game. Leonardo explained: "At that point we needed to really push and so I preferred to put on a striker rather than a midfielder.
"I wanted to keep Javier Zanetti and Thiago Motta, because they are more accustomed to playing in that role. Was I disappointed by Wesley Sneijder? No, especially as in this situation it was difficult for everyone. He was very closely marked and suffered in those circumstances, then fatigue did the rest."
Javier Zanetti admitted Inter were below par: "We knew it was going to be difficult, even if we didn't play the way we should've done," he told Rai Sport. "Unfortunately you pay for certain mistakes in the Champions League.
"It's true that Raul's goal came from our mistake, because at that moment we were in control of the game."
Despite trailing leaders AC Milan by five points in Serie A, Zanetti insists Inter can still retain their title: "Of course we believe in the Scudetto, as there are still six games to go."

Dora Akunyili – I left PDP to save my marriage

Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili , on Thursday said her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, forced her to quit the Peoples Democratic Party. Akunyili, who left the PDP last December to contest the Anambra Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, said her husband could no longer accept the violent nature of the PDP in Anambra State.
She recalled how she called a stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP in Awka in 2010 after the party lost the governorship election, saying developments at the meeting shocked her husband, who gave a choice between her marriage and the PDP.
She said some PDP members organised hoodlums, who released teargas cannisters at the meeting venue and sent everyone scampering to safety.
“There and then, my husband asked me to choose between my marriage to him and attending PDP meetings,” she said.
Akunyili said in contrast with the situation in the PDP in Anambra State, APGA  was fostering peace and unity, fostered by the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi
On her campaign for the forthcoming National Assembly election, she lamented the high cost of electioneering in Nigeria, but said she had been able to sustain her campaigns because of the goodwill she enjoyed from people both in Nigeria and abroad.
She said, Akunyili said, “Politics is a rough and difficult terrain. It is crazy. It saps one emotionally. When you are dealing with agbero politicians, it becomes more stressful.
“My experience in the field is bad. There are all sorts of campaigns of calumny, but I am happy I have overcome all of them. I have to go to the market and dance like a crazy person.”

Redknapp adamant stars staying put

Harry Redknapp has vowed to keep his rapidly improving Tottenham squad together regardless of whether they qualify for next season's Champions League.

League ladder

• Mourinho not done in Madrid
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• Redknapp: Spurs fans can't complain
• Tottenham v Real Madrid preview
Tottenham's remarkable debut year in the competition will most likely end on Wednesday night when Real Madrid bring their 4-0 aggregate lead to White Lane Hart for their quarter-final second leg.
Spurs' extended run in the Champions League has put the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in the shop window for Europe's biggest clubs, but ahead of Tottenham's clash with one such giant, Redknapp insists his stars are not for sale.
Chairman Daniel Levy admitted that he would like to trim the squad, but Redknapp clarified the comments when asked whether he would have to sell against his will this summer.
He said: "Not a chance. Absolutely rubbish. They've all got contracts, none of them are leaving. When Daniel said that we might have to trim the squad, he was talking about a lot of players on loan. That's what he is talking about.''
Luka Modric echoed his manager's sentiments, saying: "It doesn't matter if we qualify or don't qualify for the Champions League, the team will stay together.
"We are all thinking positively that we will qualify. No one is thinking of leaving Tottenham. We are happy here. Tottenham are a big club.
"We can become one of the best teams if we all stay together for a long time. We are close. We are coming and we have a great future."
Redknapp believes that his side can challenge for the Premier League title in the next few years if they continue to progress at their current rate. To emphasise just how keen they are to become challengers, the club lodged failed bids in excess of £30 million for Sergio Aguero and Giuseppe Rossi in January. Redknapp is confident that Levy will back him in the summer in order to help his dream become a reality.
He said: "We're not far off anybody really, we're right there. We're not far off Arsenal. With one or two quality players in the summer we can be right there.''
The importance of Tottenham qualifying for next year's Champions League was highlighted by recent financial results, which showed that the club's revenue increased 49% during the six months that followed their qualification to this season's competition.

Ancelotti hints at Torres error

Carlo Ancelotti admitted his future at Chelsea is out of his hands and that starting misfiring £50 million striker Fernando Torres against Manchester United may have been a mistake.

Ancelotti hints at error

United marched on to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win after goals from Javier Hernandez and Park Ji-sung at Old Trafford made Didier Drogba's goal redundant.
Ancelotti gambled by starting Torres and leaving Drogba on the bench, even though Torres had not scored in 817 minutes and 13 matches for club and country. Torres suffered a torrid first 45 minutes and was replaced at half-time by Drogba, who scored late in the second half.
When asked if it had been a mistake to start with Torres, Ancelotti said: "Maybe. Could be. I told you a lot of times this season I wanted to start with Fernando for this kind of game, these type of tactics.
"Didier played well in the second half. I wanted to put more pressure up front because we needed to score. Didier was fresh and he could use his power up front. This was the reason I took out Fernando.''
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, however, was in no doubt that it was the huge fee Chelsea splashed out for Torres in January which forced Ancelotti's hand.
Ferguson said: "A lot of people thought Drogba would play. I thought having signed Torres for the money they did they had to play him. I wasn't 100% sure but I couldn't see how they could leave Torres out.''
Ferguson, however, insisted he was not criticising Chelsea for signing Torres.
"They had the opportunity to sign Torres and I don't think anyone would have turned it down,'' Ferguson said. "Everyone said at the time it was fantastic business. You can't criticise him (Ancelotti) for that, it was a good signing. It isn't working at the moment but he is a young man and there are other seasons ahead.''
Ancelotti will now be under pressure to make sure Chelsea win Premier League games to qualify for the Champions League again.
He said: "We have to look forward. We have games to play and to win if possible because obviously we want to play the Champions League the next season.''
On his own future Ancelotti said: "I'm not concerned. I have to work and try to do my best, It is not my decision to stay or not to stay here.''

Evra confirms Inter and Real interest

Patrice Evra has confirmed that he was the subject of serious interest from Italian champions Inter over the summer.

Evra, who signed a new contract with United in February, was also targeted by Real Madrid following the arrival of Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu.
However, the Frenchman says United were in no mood to negotiate the sale of a player who has won three Premier League titles and one Champions League at Old Trafford.
"I signed a four-year contract with the club, and whoever wants to sign me has to go to Ferguson's office and deal with him directly," Evra told Sky.
"Inter was very interested in me a year ago, as well as Real Madrid. With Inter, there was serious contacts, but United did not want to sell me."