Soccer: City win not enough to secure Ancelotti's job

Chelsea moved up to third in the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City yesterday, but Carlo Ancelotti was left to defend his position as manager after the club's chief executive, Ron Gourlay, had earlier said the Italian's job would be reviewed in the northern summer.

Chelsea leapfrogged Manchester City thanks to late goals from two Brazilian players, David Luiz and Ramires. Ancelotti's side are nine points behind leaders Manchester United.

Fernando Torres again failed to score, taking his barren run for Chelsea to seven games and 495 minutes of play since moving from Liverpool in January for £50 million ($110 million).

Ancelotti admitted afterwards that he could leave Chelsea in the summer if that is the decision of owner Roman Abramovich and the board.

The former Milan manager said: "I'm happy in this moment. So I think we will continue. If one party - the club or myself - is not happy to continue, I think we'll have to split."

Ancelotti admitted he had been lucky to keep his job after the Double winners' poor run at the end of last year.

"I know very well that this team slept for two months and, in that moment, I had fantastic support from the team. A lot of coaches that sleep for two months, at this moment, are at home watching the game on television. I am here. Fortunately."

Chelsea have an outside chance at the title, and are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but it is not enough to secure Ancelotti's long-term future as manager. Gourlay said before yesterday's match the manager's position would depend on results in the next two months.

Ancelotti has a year left on his £6 million-a-year contract, but Gourlay admitted there were no guarantees he would be at the club to see it through.

Gourlay said: "All you can say is that Carlo has a contract with the club until 2012. We're delighted with Carlo and what he's achieved so far. These things can be pretty fickle.

"Carlo has come in and won the Double last season. Yes, the expectations are high, but they are high at many clubs around Europe and we've got to be realistic. Let's see where we are at the end of May then we'll judge the coach and other people at the football club."

Confusion over Ancelotti's future overshadowed an important and deserved victory for Chelsea over one of their main rivals for a top-four place. The Chelsea manager said he was happy with the contribution of Torres, who started the game alongside Salomon Kalou.

Ancelotti said: "Torres not scoring again doesn't matter. With Fernando, apart from Liverpool, we've won all our games. I hope Drogba, Anelka and Kalou also start to score. But it's important this team has a good spirit because they're working very hard. Torres has to keep going. He doesn't have to lose his confidence. I haven't asked him to score. I've asked him to move well, and he has good movement. We have to be patient, and so does he. The goal will arrive."

- INDEPENDENT