Carlo Ancelotti believes Tuesday's game with Manchester United will help shape our run-in to the end of the season.

We currently sit fifth in the Barclays Premier League 15 points behind the league leaders but with a game in hand, and victory could help kick-start a title challenge, though the manager insists he is thinking only one game at a time.

'It's a very important game for them, for us, a very important game for the future of Manchester United, for the future of Chelsea and we are excited to play this game,' said the Italian. 'I think we arrive to play this game in a very good moment. We have confidence to do our best, confidence to win.

'Obviously it will not be easy because Manchester United until now is the best team in the Premier League and we hope to play our game and to win. For us it is important to win not just for the result but to improve our confidence after the victory against Copenhagen where we played very well, so it will be a good step tomorrow.'

Assessing the 15-point gap between ourselves and Sir Alex Ferguson's side, he said: 'I think it is very difficult for us to close this gap. In this moment we have to think game by game and stay in focus there. It will be very difficult to come back now.

'Manchester United can decide its destiny, and our aim is different in this moment. Our aim is to win against Man United. When the numbers don't say that we are out, we have to believe, but obviously and objectively we have to be honest and now it's very difficult for us to close the gap. There are other games in the Premier League and we want to arrive in the first four, this is our aim.

'They played with continuity, they lost just one game this season against Wolves in the Premier League and this means they play every time in focus, concentrated, and this is the reason they are top of the table.'

Ancelotti has said that he knows his side that will play at Stamford Bridge, but is keeping his cards close to his chest. He disclosed that both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba would feature, while also discussing Nicolas Anelka, who has scored just one league goal on home soil this season.

'Anelka can show his quality when he has space. In a home game it is more difficult to find space,' said the 51-year-old. 'It depends on the behaviour of the team during the game. Against Manchester United I don't think we will have a lot of space but if we are able to move well at the right time we can find space to attack them on the counter-attack, so Anelka can show his quality also in home games.'

Asked about Torres, who is still searching for his first Chelsea goal, Ancelotti said: 'He will be involved in the game, I don't know how many minutes,' adding: 'Obviously for a striker to score is very important but above all in the last game we played really well.

'He had four opportunities to score in front of the goalkeeper and moved very well for the team. I was really happy about his performance, obviously he was not so happy and would prefer to score, and I think he will score.'

Discussing a potential partnership for the Spaniard with Drogba, he said: 'They can play together without a problem. We are trying in the training sessions to put them together, they have to improve their combination but they don't have a problem to play.'

Ancelotti says Ashley Cole will start against Manchester United despite an incident at the training ground last week. The defender has since apologised and the matter has been dealt with internally, with focus now on tomorrow night's game.

'He will play,' Ancelotti confirmed. ' Obviously we are not happy with what happened but I have spoken with him and he was really disappointed about this, said sorry, he made a mistake. I think he is in focus to play a good game.'

United will have Wayne Rooney available after the FA opted to take no action after his elbow on Wigan's James McCarthy at the weekend, but Rio Ferdinand remains sidelined so Chris Smalling is expected to deputise. He scored an own goal at the Bridge while a Fulham player last season.