For Carlos Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, his whole season - perhaps even his job - comes down to 90 minutes away to Manchester United on Tuesday evening. Chelsea did not win the League Cup, eliminated by Newcastle United. They will not win the FA Cup, eliminated by
Everton. Even if they win their game in hand, they will be eight points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United with six games to go.
And United beat them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week in the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final.
The Champions League is all they have left, and it may be Ancelotti's final chance. No other manager has survived at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich having failed to win the league, and unless he can make Chelsea the first London side to win the Champions League, he is unlikely to survive either.
Chelsea's form, though, is not good, with the arrival of Fernando Torres from Liverpool for 50 million pounds (81.7 million dollars) having further unbalanced a side that was already struggling,
"Everyone is trying to resolve this problem we have individually," Ancelotti said after his side's stuttering 1-0 win over bottom-club Wigan Athletic on
"Obviously, it's better to stay in focus and work more with each other."
The sense remains, though, that after Abramovich signed Torres, Ancelotti feels compelled to use the Spanish striker, despite his dismal form.
That means a 4-4-2, which seems not to suit Chelsea's midfield. It was notable in the first leg that Chelsea improved dramatically in the final 20 minutes, after Didier Drogba had been taken off allowing a switch to 4-3-3.
"I'll watch the (first) game one, two or three times. I want to try to do something special for the next game," Ancelotti said.
"I have to watch the game and prepare something that we can do to create difficulties."
History, though, is against Chelsea. United have never lost a European tie having won the first leg away, and only two sides in Champions League history have come back from losing the home leg 1-0 to progress.
"In Italy, we have a saying," said Ancelotti. "'If you have two, then you next have three'.
"They have to truly believe that we can win there. I don't know if they will be able to do this but, at the start of the game, you have to believe that you can win."
Chelsea did, though, win at Old Trafford in the league last season on their way to clinching the double.
"To win there, you have to do 100 per cent in everything," Ancelotti said. "And not just 100 per cent, but you have to use personality, courage, you have to control the game."
Everton. Even if they win their game in hand, they will be eight points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United with six games to go.
And United beat them 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week in the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final.
The Champions League is all they have left, and it may be Ancelotti's final chance. No other manager has survived at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich having failed to win the league, and unless he can make Chelsea the first London side to win the Champions League, he is unlikely to survive either.
Chelsea's form, though, is not good, with the arrival of Fernando Torres from Liverpool for 50 million pounds (81.7 million dollars) having further unbalanced a side that was already struggling,
"Everyone is trying to resolve this problem we have individually," Ancelotti said after his side's stuttering 1-0 win over bottom-club Wigan Athletic on
"Obviously, it's better to stay in focus and work more with each other."
The sense remains, though, that after Abramovich signed Torres, Ancelotti feels compelled to use the Spanish striker, despite his dismal form.
That means a 4-4-2, which seems not to suit Chelsea's midfield. It was notable in the first leg that Chelsea improved dramatically in the final 20 minutes, after Didier Drogba had been taken off allowing a switch to 4-3-3.
"I'll watch the (first) game one, two or three times. I want to try to do something special for the next game," Ancelotti said.
"I have to watch the game and prepare something that we can do to create difficulties."
History, though, is against Chelsea. United have never lost a European tie having won the first leg away, and only two sides in Champions League history have come back from losing the home leg 1-0 to progress.
"In Italy, we have a saying," said Ancelotti. "'If you have two, then you next have three'.
"They have to truly believe that we can win there. I don't know if they will be able to do this but, at the start of the game, you have to believe that you can win."
Chelsea did, though, win at Old Trafford in the league last season on their way to clinching the double.
"To win there, you have to do 100 per cent in everything," Ancelotti said. "And not just 100 per cent, but you have to use personality, courage, you have to control the game."
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