CECH A POSSIBILITY FOR BLACKBURN
Carlo Ancelotti may have Petr Cech available for selection as we look to recover from Champions League disappointment at Blackburn on Sunday.
The goalkeeper has been out with a calf injury since our European first leg defeat at Inter on February 24, but has now returned to training. Ancelotti will monitor the situation before leaving for the north-west on Saturday afternoon.
'Cech trained today, but is doubtful for Sunday,' Ancelotti said on Friday afternoon. 'He will train tomorrow and we will take a decision for the game against Blackburn.'
Hilario is still absent though, meaning Ross Turnbull, who has deputised in the last two matches, could continue. Yesterday, Turnbull called for focus as we aim for an FA Cup and Barclays Premier League double and today his manager was in full agreement.
'Now we have to look at the Premier League and the FA Cup. It is not an easy moment because we are out from an important competition, the Champions League, we are disappointed for this but this is football and we have to look forward to the next game,' the manager said.
'I can say that we have to have a very good reaction, every game will be very important and we have 10 or 11 games to the end of the season. We can do a fantastic season because we are involved in two important competitions and after this disappointment we need a good reaction on Sunday.
'Our destiny is in our hands, if we win every game we can do the Double, and it is very difficult, but we can try. It is very important to think about this, only five teams won the Double in 140 years here in England. It is our aim.'
Three days after exiting Europe, spirits are beginning to lift and Ancelotti was keen to express he still has faith in the players at his disposal.
'I have trust in these players. I have confidence and it can happen sometimes that we are not able to do what we want,' he explained. 'I have fantastic, professional players and we have very good direction.
'We want to play football - I always said our aim is to play good football. We missed the last game but want to come back to play good football against Blackburn.'
Ancelotti was joined at the training ground by club owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday, and the Italian believes his presence will be a boost to the squad.
'Roman was here yesterday, he spoke with me, with the players, he came here to support us because he knows very well football and he knows we are involved in important competitions, so I think it was very good his presence yesterday,' the manager said.
'We didn't speak about the future, the changes for next season, because it is not the right time now to speak about this.
'We have important games in the next week and we have to stay focused, all the club, for these games. After, we have a lot of time to speak about the future of this team. It is normal that in a new season there are new faces. Now I want to think about this team and I want to put this team in the best position until the end of the season.'
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