Wenger on Chelsea's debt... We are in a period of magicians

• zocoss

  1 Jan 10, 11:24

  Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti scoffs at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's 'magical' powers
  

   

   

  Taunted: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

   

   

  Carlo Ancelotti has reacted with amazement to Arsene Wenger's claim that he knew Chelsea would drop points in the wake of Arsenal's 3-0 humiliation by their London neighbours.

  Wenger went on the offensive after Arsenal's kids were brushed aside by Chelsea, insisting he had seen signs of weakness in Ancelotti's side despite the comprehensive manner of the defeat.

  Wenger has delighted in the fact his predication came true as Chelsea struggled through December, picking up just nine points from a possible 18 compared to Arsenal's 16.

  The Blues boss is bewildered by Wenger's constant claims that the Stamford Bridge outfit will drop points and collapse under the pressure of the closest championship race for years. And he reminds everyone Chelsea still lead the Premier League going into 2010 despite their desperate December form which saw them win just twice in six matches.

  While Ancelotti accepts his side did struggle, he taunted Wenger by suggesting he must have supernatural powers if he saw anything in Chelsea's victory at the Emirates that suggested what was to follow.

  'He's a good magician if he said that after that game,' quipped Ancelotti before insisting Chelsea's presence at the top of the league is the only statistic that matters.

  'There is not one unbeatable team,' he said. 'We had some problems in December and didn't win important games, drawing against Everton, Birmingham and West Ham, but it's normal to have these moments.

  'Some teams had bad moments before, and we had that period that wasn't so good. But we still stayed at the top so we've done better than the other teams over the first six months.

  'I don't know what will happen in the future. Arsenal and Manchester United will be difficult opponents. But Chelsea deserve to have stayed top.'

  He admitted the title race was tight as United and Arsenal continue to press, adding: 'It's a very competitive championship and will be until the end of the season. But I think the problems are over now for Chelsea.'

   

• Y_Shun

  1 Jan 10, 17:02

  Its not magician but its the fact that Diamond formation kinda sucks.

• Rooney9

  1 Jan 10, 17:08

  ya chelsea will drop points in January and February. if drogba is injured during the african nations cup, then who do they rely to score goals? Anelka is only out for a few weeks, but he will be back soon. chelsea need to buy a striker in January. cannot rely on that youngster sturridge.

• zocoss

  2 Jan 10, 12:53

  Anelka is back already...

• zocoss

  4 Jan 10, 01:33

   

  Arsène Wenger says Chelsea's debt is 'half-cheating'

  • 'Football is about winning and balancing the budget'
  • Arsenal manager says financial rules should apply to all clubs

  

  Arsène Wenger believes that clubs should balance their books and that having huge debts is 'half-cheating'. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

   

   

  Arsène Wenger made a thinly veiled reference yesterday to Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti, who earlier this week had sarcastically called the Arsenal manager a "magician" when he predicted Chelsea would fall away in the new year and the Italian would be sacked.

  Wenger said Christmas was a "time for magicians" in reference to Chelsea's debt having been written off by Roman Abramovich – some £340m since the Russian oligarch took over at Stamford Bridge.

  "Professional football is about winning and balancing the budget," said Wenger. "That's the basic rule, one I fought for. All the rest is half-cheating. I don't know what happened [at Portsmouth] but for every club it has to be the same: for Chelsea, for everybody. I've always pleaded for financial fair play."

   

• Y_Shun

  5 Jan 10, 19:01

  I do agree its kinda cheating. hahahas

• Poignant

  5 Jan 10, 19:05

  chelsea nvr own roman money alr.

  roman decides to just cancel away the debt