So Chelsea have yet another new manager, ushered in, no doubt, with yet more fanfare and oily platitudes from Bruce Buck and Peter Kenyon. Chelsea FC/Other Ancelotti has signed on the dotted line. Although the move has been no secret, it's still a little odd that they've gone for Carlo Ancelotti. He was allowed to leave by Milan because they were unhappy with his team's performance, and at Chelsea he'll find a group of players similar to the ones so clearly unequipped to challenge Inter in Serie A. Like Milan, Chelsea's squad is comprised mainly of those towards the end of the careers, and in need of reinvigorating in order to compete with the younger, faster and more dynamic teams who have been beating them to the biggest trophies over the last few seasons. That said, there are a handful of world class players at the Bridge - certainly more than at the San Siro - and although the extent to which Roman Abramovich is prepared to dip into his depleted bank account to finance any acquisitions is unclear, he'll certainly provide more funds than Silvio Berlusconi has done in recent years. It's hard, though, not to wonder whether the problems Chelsea experienced after appointing Luis Felipe Scolari will reoccur. A particular type of knowhow is required in order to succeed in England, and very few managers - foreign or otherwise - have achieved immediate success. The only one to do so in the last decade - Jose Mourinho - was helped by retaining Steve Clarke as his assistant, and appointing the right number two will be crucial in allowing Ancelotti to introduce his own methods whilst retaining the team's mojo. One thing Ancelotti will need is time. If he's permitted to bring in new players, the likelihood of them gelling immediately is slim. If he isn't, he'll still need to introduce his own ideas to improve the side; it has been three seasons since they won they won the league, and although they've been close, that they haven't is no coincidence - quite simply, they've not been good enough. It's possible that those running the club have learnt their lessons after sacking four managers in five years, but should Chelsea fail to win the Premier League or Champions League next season, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see Hiddink return after next summer's World Cup.
Final FA CUP 08/09
Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton
Chelsea need to be patient
Carlo Ancelotti confirmed as new Chelsea coach
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, just a day after the exit of Guus Hiddink. TonyMarshall/Empics Ancelotti's twin Champions League wins make him an outstanding manager. The Italian succeeds Hiddink, whose short stint at Stamford Bridge ended after Saturday's FA Cup final victory over Everton. Ancelotti, who has long been linked with the Stamford Bridge post, left AC Milan by mutual consent on Sunday. A statement on their official website read: ''Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to become our new manager. He has signed a three year contract and will start on July 1, 2009. ''Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job. He has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for, and have been successful in, major domestic and European competitions. ''He also had a highly successful playing career in those competitions and therefore brings unparalleled all round experience to the job. ''We are sure everybody at Chelsea will give him a warm welcome and we are all looking forward to working with him.'' Ancelotti, 50 later this month, twice won the Champions League, in 2003 and 2007, and the Serie A title in 2004 during his eight years in charge at Milan. He has previously coached at Reggiana, Parma and Juventus. His track record of success dates back to his playing days when he also won two league titles and two European Cups with Milan and he becomes the fourth Chelsea manager in 21 months following Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Hiddink. Ancelotti told Chelsea TV: ''Milan for me was a great experience. For five years I played with a great team - we had a lot of success - and eight years to train a great team. ''Now I think it is time to change and Chelsea for me was a great opportunity, a great team. Now I think it is the right moment for a new challenge and I want to put all my energy for Chelsea.'' Ancelotti will be charged with replicating his past European successes at Chelsea while also re-establishing the club on top of the Premier League. The Champions League title is the only trophy Chelsea have not won since Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge. ''There will be the same pressure because Chelsea are a great team in Europe,'' Ancelotti added. ''They want to win all the competitions. ''For me the Champions League is a beautiful sensation. When I played I won it two times, it was a fantastic moment and the same thing when I was a coach in Milan. The Champions League for me is the best competition in the world.'' But there are question marks over Ancelotti, not least over his lack of English, given the problems that appeared to bring when Scolari was in charge. Ancelotti said: ''For me (English) is not easy but I want to learn and I want to improve. I have the time and when we start the season I will speak well. It is important for me to speak with the players, the team, the assistant and all the operators that will work with me.''
Lampard wins FA Cup
The contest was less than half a minute old when Louis Saha found the net for the Merseysiders.
It was to be a high point for Everton though as Didier Drogba levelled before Frank Lampard's 20-yard strike just evaded the despairing dive of Tim Howard 18 minutes from time.
Apart from allowing Ashley Cole to become the first player since the 19th century to collect five winners' medals, the victory, Chelsea's second in three years at the new Wembley, is a reminder of the stability Hiddink has brought to Stamford Bridge since replacing the hapless Luiz Felipe Scolari in February.
And if, as expected, Carlo Ancelotti is confirmed as permanent boss when Hiddink returns to his full-time job with Russia, the Italian has been given a pretty successful man to follow.
After a pair of tepid semi-finals, the Wembley authorities changed the pitch and their groundsman in the hope of getting something better in place for their showpiece occasion. The reward came after exactly 25 seconds.
If there is a more unlucky player in world football at the moment than Saha, he must get some pretty bad fortune.
During a brief period on loan at Newcastle much earlier in his career, Saha was overlooked for one FA Cup final. Of the three he sat out at Manchester United, he was fit for just one - in 2004, but he was ineligible.
In addition to that, a booking during a brief substitute appearance in the World Cup semi-final in Germany three years ago meant he was suspended for France's eventual defeat by Italy.
So there was a fair bit of venom in his left foot when Marouane Fellaini guided Michael Essien's weak clearance into the former Manchester United man's path.
Saha met the ball perfectly, leaving Petr Cech with not a hope of keeping it out.
The Everton supporters, far more noisy than their Chelsea counterparts anyway, erupted in joy, Peter Reid among them, daring to believe this year, as in their last appearance 14 seasons ago, they would leave Wembley as winners.
If there is a downside to scoring quite so early, it is the length of time left to hang on.
Everton did try to keep pushing forward. It was just that they were not allowed to as Chelsea shook off that massive initial disappointment and slowly but purposefully turned the screw.
Tony Hibbert is what is known in the trade as an honest professional. Dedicated to his task, what he lacks in ability, he tries to make up for in effort.
Sometimes though, it is not enough.
Booked after eight minutes for a needless ankle tap on Malouda, he was then repeatedly exposed by the French wide-man, a clear case of Chelsea targeting an individual within opposition ranks.
More than any other player, Malouda has benefited from working with Hiddink and the Dutchman's departure for Moscow will be keenly felt by the former Lyon man, acquired at the not inconsiderable cost of £13.5million by Jose Mourinho.
And, assisted by Cole, the pair caused mayhem down the Everton right virtually at will.
Malouda delivered the cross that invited Drogba's powerful finish for the Chelsea equaliser, Cole had the angled drive that should have put them in front.
Before that Malouda had just fired over and with Lampard's dipping effort virtually skimming the Everton crossbar, it was not really a surprise when David Moyes introduced Lars Jacobsen at the break.
The move worked to the extent Chelsea were forced to go infield to make ground, Nicolas Anelka going mightily close with a deft lob.
However, in stemming such an obvious flow of attacks on their goal, Everton found it easier to relieve the pressure and apply some of their own.
Saha went close with virtually their first decent opening since he scored and spirits started to rise again among the Toffees faithful. How quickly they were crushed.
After collecting Anelka's lay-off, Lampard was assisted by a slight slip as he checked inside Phil Neville - allowing him a couple of extra seconds to get a sight of Everton's goal and he duly drilled home from 20 yards.
Chelsea were twice controversially denied a third, first when referee Howard Webb decided Malouda's effort had not crossed the line after crashing back off the bar when TV replays showed it had, then when the official booked Lampard for diving when Stephen Pienaar had stuck out a leg for him to fall over.
It did not matter. Hiddink richly deserved to wave goodbye with a glint of silverware in his eye.
Chelsea comeback quells quick-fire Everton
Chelsea FC recovered from conceding the quickest goal in the 128-year history of the FA Cup final to overcome Everton FC 2-1, strikes from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard earning a fifth success for the London club.
First-minute opener
The final has not seen a major upset since 1995, when Everton beat Manchester United FC 1-0 to claim their last piece of silverware, but the possibility of an upset improved greatly when Louis Saha scored after just 25 seconds at Wembley. Chelsea, under Guus Hiddink for the last time before he returns to his role as Russia coach, battled back, though, and claimed the trophy for the second time in three years with a goal in either half.
Saha strike
The Merseysiders' made the perfect start when Steven Pienaar's cross was half-cleared by John Mikel Obi, Marouane Fellaini headed back into the danger area and Louis Saha drove the loose ball inside the near post. However, Chelsea cleared their heads quickly with Lampard's chipped pass releasing Florent Malouda in space and his cross was powerfully headed into the bottom corner by Drogba as the Ivorian rose above Joleon Lescott.
Lampard winner
After the interval, Nicolas Anelka lobbed just wide while Saha should have registered again with a close-range header before Chelsea, unbeaten in 22 matches against Everton before the showpiece, completed the turnaround as Lampard turned deftly and thumped in from 20 metres on 70 minutes. Malouda struck the bar from distance late on but the Stamford Bridge outfit had done enough by then.
Hiddink praise
"We showed a lot of character after conceding so early and basically dominated the game," said Lampard, before paying tribute to the departing manager. "Guus has been amazing – a great manager and a great man. It's a great send off for him and he completely deserves it." The Dutchman added: "I enjoyed working with these big names and they showed in the league, Champions League and today a lot of character. This is one of my biggest achievements."
Ancelotti swerves talk of future
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to comment on club owner Silvio Berlusconi's apparent confirmation he would be leaving this summer. Speculation has been rife in Italy and England that Ancelotti will leave Milan for Chelsea, and the Rossoneri were set to make an announcement on his future tomorrow had they clinched Champions League qualification today. Their 3-2 defeat against Roma means any announcement will now not be forthcoming until next week following the final game of the season against fourth-placed Fiorentina. Ancelotti has always insisted that is when he will decide his future and he reiterated that claim today. "There is no reason to talk about my future," he told Sky Italia. "We are still involved and we will talk about everything after Florence. "I don't want to make any comments, it's Paolo Maldini's day and it's right to value that. "We should talk about him because he has been a great example." Earlier, when asked about Maldini's last game at the San Siro before his impending retirement Berlusconi fuelled speculation that Ancelotti is on the verge of leaving. "It's a pity that it's Maldini's last game here," he said. "Ancelotti? Likewise."
Sbragia quits after Sunderland survive
Sunderland 2 - 3 ChelseaWhile rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough were experiencing the trauma of relegation, Sunderland were succumbing to defeat in Guus Hiddink's final match as manager of Chelsea.
But results elsewhere meant it was not a costly loss, and events elsewhere ensured these two sides will meet again next season.
Substitute Salomon Kalou and England defender Ashley Cole struck inside the final 16 minutes to ensure the three points left Wearside with the visitors, despite Kenwyne Jones' 90th-minute header.
Kieran Richardson had earlier dragged the home side back into the game with a 53rd-minute strike, six minutes after Nicolas Anelka had claimed his 25th goal of the season with a 25-yard rocket.
A crowd of 42,468 left the ground happy for very different reasons, with the victors looking to next Saturday's FA Cup final clash with Everton and their hosts anticipating the watching Ellis Short's buy-out.
After a week during which the strength of the teams Chelsea and Manchester United might field had been a regular topic of debate, no-one could have any complaints about Guus Hiddink's response.
Seven days before the FA Cup final, he left out only Alex and Frank Lampard, and an early injury to Juliano Belletti meant Michael Ballack also got a run-out on his return from a hamstring injury.
It was a measure of what was at stake on a tense final afternoon of the season that the biggest cheer of the first half had nothing to do with what was happening at the Stadium of Light.
With 38 minutes gone on Wearside, the news filtered through that Aston Villa had taken the lead against Newcastle, and the resulting celebrations among the fans decked out in red and white were as much in relief as at the misery of their black and white neighbours.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech got away with an unconvincing punch early on as he and Jones jumped for a Danny Collins cross.
He also saw a well-struck Grant Leadbitter shot fly well wide with 24 minutes gone as the home side worked hard to limit their opponents.
Chelsea's best moments came at either end of the half with Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda causing the problems.
The Ivory Coast striker chipped an eighth-minute shot just over the rapidly back-pedalling Martin Fulop, and then forced the Hungarian into a solid save from a tight angle three minutes later.
Fulop had to be at his best in stoppage-time when Drogba turned smartly on the edge of the box and curled a shot towards the bottom corner, where the goalkeeper just got his fingertips to the ball.
The woodwork denied the visitors deep into added time when Malouda crashed a dipping left-footed drive against the bar with Fulop beaten.
However, there was nothing Fulop or anyone or anything else could do to prevent Chelsea from taking the lead two minutes after the restart.
Anelka, who had endured a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards, took it upon himself to light up the game with a piece of individual brilliance.
He picked up the ball around 35 yards out and made ground before unleashing a piledriver which was too good for Fulop's despairing dive and screamed into the top corner.
But Sunderland refused to accept that was game over, and they were back on level terms within six minutes.
The industrious Leadbitter battled hard for the opportunity to cross from the left, and when Cech spilled the ball under pressure from Jones, Richardson pounced to smash the rebound home.
Fulop had to be on his toes to keep out Ballack's near-post flick from a 57th-minute Malouda corner, but the home fans were starting to relax as the nightmare scenario receded.
Sunderland enjoyed their best spell of the game as they started to play with a freedom which had been lacking in recent weeks, and they very nearly took the lead with 19 minutes remaining.
Steed Malbranque broke from his own half and exchanged passes with the supporting Calum Davenport, only for John Terry to intervene before the Frenchman could pull the trigger.
But it was Kalou, who had earlier replaced Michael Essien, who made it 2-1 three minutes later when he drilled an unstoppable shot inside the post to beat Fulop.
Sunderland continued to battle gamely, with Phil Bardsley forcing another save from Cech with a long-range 83rd-minute attempt, but it was Cole who wrapped things up four minutes from time with a volleyed finish from the edge of the box.
Jones' 90th-minute header ensured a tense finale, but there was no way back for the Wearsiders.
Match Summary
SCORING SUMMARY Chelsea Blackburn Rovers Florent Malouda (4) Nicolas Anelka (59) MATCH STATS Chelsea Blackburn Rovers Shots (on Goal) 23(7) 10(3) Fouls 7 6 Corner Kicks 2 4 Offsides 2 2 Time of Possession 59% 41% Yellow Cards 1 2 Red Cards 0 0 Saves 3 5 MATCH INFORMATION Stadium: Stamford Bridge, England
Attendance: 40,804
Match Time: 16:00 UK
Official(s):
R Styles (Referee)
TEAMS Chelsea Blackburn Rovers 1 Petr Cech 1 Paul Robinson 26 John Terry 21 Gael Givet 33 Alex 6 Ryan Nelsen 3 Ashley Cole 3 Stephen Warnock 17 José Bosingwa 17 Keith Andrews 12 John Mikel Obi 11 Vincenzo Grella 8 Frank Lampard 19 Carlos Villanueva 5 Michael Essien 5 Tugay Kerimoglu 15 Florent Malouda 12 Morten Gamst Pedersen 11 Didier Drogba 4 Christopher Samba 39 Nicolas Anelka 18 El-Hadji Diouf Substitutes 35 Juliano Belletti Zurab Khizanishvili 13 40 Henrique Hilario Mark Bunn 38 42 Michael Mancienne Benedict McCarthy 10 16 Scott Sinclair Aaron Mokoena 15 2 Branislav Ivanovic Martin Olsson 29 9 Franco Di Santo Keith Treacy 24 43 Miroslav Stoch Aaron Doran 39 Substitutions Aaron Doran for Ryan Nelsen(44) Zurab Khizanishvili for Gael Givet (45) Benedict McCarthy for Morten Gamst Pedersen (66) Yellow Cards José Bosingwa (27) Aaron Doran (63) Zurab Khizanishvili (84) · Club Squads: Chelsea | Blackburn Rovers
Guus bows out with victory
Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
The Dutchman is set to return to his full-time role with the Russian national team following the end of the season, which will conclude with the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Chelsea were good value for their win, with Blackburn also putting on a decent performance despite having little to play for.
Chelsea, who have a slim chance to catch Liverpool in runners-up spot, started brightly, and took the lead after just four minutes.
Anelka escaped down the right, before whipping the ball back onto the penalty spot, where Malouda arrived on queue to crash a bullet header past Paul Robinson, into the corner.
Rovers had a chance to get quickly back on level terms, but captain Ryan Nelsen headed El-Hadji Diouf's right-wing cross over from six yards.
After 10 minutes, Anelka almost made it 2-0 when he touched Ashley Cole's cutback goalwards, but Robinson produced a fine reaction save.
Rovers are much improved under Sam Allardyce, who has guided them safely out of the relegation zone, and the visitors enjoyed a spell of possession.
Frank Lampard made a timely block as Vince Grella sent a shot goalwards from the edge of the area.
Chelsea then went up the other end - where all-action England midfielder Lampard struck the crossbar after being played in by Anelka.
Cole saw his scuffed effort saved, at the second time of asking, by Robinson in the 21st minute.
Chelsea continued to press forwards and Givet, from under his own crossbar, was alert to hack away Malouda's chip over the goalkeeper.
Blackburn were forced into a change just before the break when skipper Nelsen limped off to be replaced by youngster Aaron Doran as the visitors reshuffled their line-up, moving makeshift striker Chris Samba back into defence.
Chelsea continued in determined mood following the restart and doubled their lead after 59 minutes.
Cole's ball in was missed by Malouda, but Didier Drogba touched back for Anelka on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area.
The French striker needed no second invitation, and drilled in his 18th league goal of the season, to draw level with United forward Cristiano Ronaldo - as chants of "Guus Hiddink, we want you to stay'' rang out around Stamford Bridge.
Anelka almost made it 3-0 after 72 minutes, but dragged an angled shot just wide.
Blackburn veteran Tugay - set to leave Ewood Park at the end of the season - had a swerving shot kept out by Petr Cech.
Robinson produced a fine reaction save from Anelka at point-blank range during stoppage time before Chelsea and their departing coach all enjoyed a lap of appreciation after the final whistle.
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