Ancelotti in danger of creating a Chelsea team too much in his own image

Tuesday’s Champions League encounter between Chelsea and Inter was rich in contrasts. One team dynamic, energetic; another lethargic. One side was patient and creative, the other artless. Two figures on the sidelines cut similarly different shapes: one Portuguese, involved and vocal; one Italian, calm and nonplussed.

Passionate fans – especially in the heat of the moment – are riled when their passion does not seem to be reflected in those that represent them on the pitch. If there’s one criticism that I’ve heard more often from Chelsea fans over the last few days than any other – either on this blog’s facebook page or on BBC’s 606 radio phone-in – it was of Ancelotti’s passionless demeanour as Inter shunted Chelsea out of the Champions League with minimum fuss.

Something Mourinho said just a few days ago is hugely relevant to that fan psyche. Speaking about the role of the manager come kick-off, he said that it is down to the players at that point to execute the gameplan. Crucially however, he also said that it is the role of the manager to do all he can – everything - to help his team from the touchline. At that point, it is all he can do.

It was precisely this attitude – his ongoing open-mindedness to helping his players during matches – that, for me, made him a great manager. Sometimes he might not get his first XI right, but his in-game interventions were almost always spot on. He was the master of ‘sending a message’ with a substitution, or changing a dying game with a change. He wasn’t above admitting he was wrong and screwing up the gameplan if it wasn’t working, either. His very presence would offer encouragement or admonishment, as required, to any player who happened to glance towards their bench.

Such was the efficacy of Inter’s original gameplan on Tuesday that such interventions weren’t needed. But nevertheless Jose was a typically ever-present figure on the touchline, ready to give instruction, encouragement or a warning to any players that needed it. Managers in Jose’s mould create a constant psychological and tactical hotline to their players from kick-off to full-time.

It is probably understandable that some Chelsea fans found Ancelotti’s expressionless attitude unnerving, especially when such a larger-than-life reminder of the manager they used to have was in such close proximity. Managers, of course, do have different and equally valid styles: Hiddink for example was universally loved by Chelsea fans without being a ‘Mourinho’ on the touchlines. Ferguson and Wenger combine calm with flashes of emotion and direction, while O’Neil seems on edge throughout.

Ancelotti on Tuesday night pushed the calm exterior too far until it resembled lifelessness, and the team’s performance closely mirrored that persona. Ancelotti was repeatedly pictured standing gormlessly, hands in pockets, staring across the Stamford Bridge pitch. And how often did he offer direction to his players during breaks in play?

I welcome Ancelotti’s calm persona generally, but his ageing Chelsea side typically play a slow, patient game and seem to need increasingly less excuses to put in a lax or flat performance these days. The Italian’s lack of dynamism was certainly a contributing factor to a performance that quickly went stale.

As the game ebbed away and Chelsea became increasingly desperate, the sight of Ancelotti motionless on the sidelines must have been far from inspirational. In fact, in contrast to Jose’s mantra of doing everything you can to support your players (including exuding a sense of energy and control) Chelsea players must have imagined their manager felt as lost, directionless and uninspired as they did.

The team was failing to find energy and ideas: Ancelotti did little to help them find it. As it was, Chelsea meandered towards the defeat without a solitary whimper.

We English have a habit of distrust in calm, considered managers – it certainly engendered a distrust in Sven-Goran Eriksson. We have an innate preference for loud, bullish managers, and we revere the ‘hairdryer’. It is certainly foolish to place so much faith in such a stereotype and exclude other styles, but surely the best managers should look to strike a balance? Ancelotti didn’t find that balance on Tuesday and, as Mourinho might say, his players deserved more help.

As I wrote the other day, Ancelotti hasn’t become a bad manager overnight and he’ll continue to get my support. But that doesn’t mean he’s beyond criticism. What do you think – post a comment…

Comments

[Peter]

I think it's bollocks.

As usual.

The Mourinho gimps come back out of the wood work, but when he fails in Europe yet again and runs off from Inter at the end of the season no doubt they'll all suddenly disappear.

[david jackson]

fundamentally i agree with this - but it also touches other areas which worry me about Ancelotti - his slowness to sub, his apparent inability to influence games from the sideline and his loyalty to players clearly out of form.

Jose's as you say, is fantastic at influencing games from sideline- 2nd half of his last chelsea season he was extraordinary in his subs and changes and coaxing the team to victories - Carlo puts out well prepared teams but at this level you just need the extra 5% when your original plan isn't working and i'm not sure he's got it.
This is especially true when the team's getting on a bit.
Don't agree with poster above Inter will go all the way I think

[chelsfan]

as i think your saying, I don't think carlo's a bad manager. he did make a mess of tuesday though, and his lack of passion isn't a good sign, epscially in the premier league.

he doesn't seem to be a great manager, you're right. he does need to be given the chance to put his own team togehter though

[soccerCrave]

Carlo is a very good manager in my opinion. You don't win 2 champions league finals just by luck. I also credit him for trying to get the youngsters into the first team (at least earlier on in the season), I hope he will do more of that next season. Let's face it he got the job less than a year ago, hasn't bought any new player yet, this is not his team yet. Once he goes through a real mercato and gets the players he needs to accomodate his system and not the other way around as it is now, we can judge his coaching skills. It won't happen overnight either, it took Mourinho 2 seasons to make Inter a CL title contendent. They did pretty poorly in CL his first year in charge coz he didn't have the players he needed at that time.
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/all-about-chelsea/

[Joe Tyler]

Firstly let me say that I do not think Ancelotti is a bad manager. I think he's a good manager, not a great one. However, he is treating us like AC Milan. He needs to realise the English game is less about technique and flair and more about heart, strength and passion. Killing our passion by being so calm is killing everything we're about. Under Mourinho, 2-0 down with 5 minutes left on the clock I still felt we were in with a chance becuase he wound the team up so much we always fought. Calmly calmly patient approach is fine on the continent, but not for our league. I'm hoping that the funny feeling I have comes true. It would be very Jose-esque to say, 'see I told you I was the only person able to manage Chelsea' and return.

[syd master]

carlo need to be more active during the game...sometime i see him just like i see grant...passionless...

one thing i hate with carlo that he not used the substitution to maximum...and IF he make a sub....its too late to change anything...