Chelsea vs Copenhagen preview - Ancelotti `not interested` in Terry talk

Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2011 by PA

Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday insisted he was "not interested" in whether John Terry had changed his ways since being stripped of the England captaincy following Fabio Capello's controversial decision to reinstate the Chelsea skipper.

Terry looks set to regain the armband Capello took from him a year ago following allegations of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of then international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

England manager Capello revealed on Monday he planned to meet Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday night to discuss the prospect of relieving the injured Manchester United defender of the captaincy he inherited in the wake of the Terry scandal.

Chelsea boss Ancelotti, who did not follow Capello's lead by stripping Terry of the Chelsea captaincy, has repeatedly claimed he is not interested in what his players get up in their spare time.

It is something he has been forced to reiterate on numerous occasions when they have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Asked if he felt Terry had learnt his lesson from last year's events, Ancelotti said: "I don't know. I'm not interested in this.

"I'm just interested in seeing him train well and play fantastic football at this moment. That's all."

Ancelotti was tight-lipped about Terry's likely reinstatement, revealing only his belief that the defender would be "happy" to lead his country again.

"I didn't say anything when the England team took away his armband," Ancelotti said.

"Obviously, this is the decision of the national team and he will be happy about this."

The news about Terry completely overshadowed Chelsea's press conference ahead of the Champions League last-16 second leg against Copenhagen.

The one big surprise came when Ancelotti revealed Fernando Torres was not a certain starter as he confirmed he was planning to rest players ahead of Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester City.

Copenhagen, who Chelsea lead 2-0 after the first leg, appear tailor-made for Torres finally to end the goal drought he has endured since his £50million move from Liverpool, but Ancelotti said: "Maybe he will have a rest."

There have been claims Torres is homesick but Ancelotti said: "This is not true. He's happy to stay here.

"We're happy that he's here. He's working very well and doesn't have a problem."

Ancelotti's opposite number Stale Solbakken was having none of it, the FC Copenhagen boss "100% sure" Torres would start.

Solbakken also suggested Torres' team-mates would go out of their way to ensure he finally finds the net for his new club and challenged his players to ensure the striker's goal drought extends to six matches.

If Ancelotti was bluffing, he failed to fool his opposite number.

"I'm 100% sure that Torres will play and I also think that they will try to pass to him a lot," said Solbakken, who expected Nicolas Anelka to partner the Spaniard.

"Anelka didn't play the last game so I don't think it's a bad guess to say they will start together."

Anelka was Copenhagen's tormentor in the first leg three weeks ago, scoring twice in a 2-0 win that made Chelsea overwhelming favourites to reach the quarter-finals.

"If we should go out, it should be in a good way and that means probably stopping those two for most of the game," said Solbakken, who admitted his side "need a miracle or two" to turn the tie around.

Yet, he added: "We're going for it.

"If the goal comes when it's 10 minutes left, it's probably as good as it is to get it in the first minute."