• Chelsea defender has torn ligaments in right ankle
• Germany coach Jochaim Löw ’shocked’ by injury
Germany were today reeling from the news that Michael Ballack, their captain and most influential player, will miss the World Cup finals after the Chelsea midfielder was ruled out with ankle ligament damage. Ballack feared the worst when he was unable to continue in the FA
The Chelsea manager had reservations when he came to the club but now says he wants to stay
Carlo Ancelotti says he wants to stay here for “maybe 10 years” and is thankful we “respect the private life of everyone”, which would be news to John Terry and Ashley Cole. Chelsea’s manager absorbed the good bits and screened the bad in a season when he started out as another likely recipient of an early P45 but ended up a more successful debutant than José Mourinho.
“I’m happy to sign a new contract. I think stability is important,” Ancelotti said in his hour of Double triumph at Wembley. “If we can work together for a long time, it’s better to have stability for the club. It’s also important for the manager, because it’s not easy if you’re changing club every year. After this first season if they asked me how long I want to stay here I would say maybe 10 years. That wouldn’t be bad, especially if every season is like this season.”
Here is a hired gun smitten. At first Ancelotti seemed one of those clever, detached continental sages who has seen real power in motion and intuits that personal survival is the highest art. You take a salary from Silvio Berlusconi, you understand machinations. Milan were Ancelotti’s degree in politics. There were grounds for thinking he came to the Premier League to take a brief ride on Roman Abramovich’s volatility. If it worked, immortality would follow. If not, Ancelotti could roll back to Serie
Frédéric Piquionne is left isolated as champions’ pressing game keeps Pompey on the back foot
How Chelsea lined up
Carlo Ancelotti’s confident Chelsea unsurprisingly retained their eight-goal stylists from last week. Well balanced, with Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda important left-footers, their danger came from their interchangeable front three. Chelsea’s plan was to stretch Portsmouth’s back four, who would need to keep their stations and cover each other well. If, as expected, Chelsea would dominate possession, Frank Lampard’s attacking movements would take him into advanced positions to support their pacy front three. Portsmouth selected one lone striker, Frédéric Piquionne, with Jamie O’Hara supporting from a deeper position. Michael Ballack would be keeping an eye on him.
Tactics and teamwork
Portsmouth dropped off as Chelsea took
