18 October 2009

REACTION: SET PIECE SETBACK

Carlo Ancelotti pointed to our poor defending of set pieces as the main contributory factor behind our lunchtime defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Both of our opponents' goals came from left-wing corners, each headed home from close range after defensive lapses, ensuring we suffered consecutive away league defeats for the first time in two years.
After the game, Ancelotti could not mask his frustration.
'I am disappointed because we did a good match, but we lost the game on the set plays and I don't like to lose the game on the set plays,' he said. 'If you have to lose a game it is better to lose when the other team played better than us. Aston villa did a very good job but also Chelsea did very well.
'On the set plays for sure we need to do better because we can, we need more pressure and markers in the box. This is the question for this match.
'In Wigan we made the same mistake, the first goal was a set play and we have to improve this situation because it is an important one in the game. We have to pay more attention in the box, the Italian continued.
'In England there are a lot of players [that are] very good with their head, and it is a dangerous situation, but also in Italy. It is not new.
'When we lose a game we are not happy but until this moment the team have played very well, did a very good job, but some things we can improve for sure, set plays is one of these things.'
Villa boss Martin O' Neill was naturally delighted with the win, against what he described as a 'brilliant' Chelsea side, a word he was clearly keen on using.
'I thought we played brilliantly in the first half and obviously had to defend in the second half because Chelsea came at us very strongly, but we saw it through eventually,' he began. 'We conceded a soft goal so to fight back is particularly brilliant.
'I think any team that finishes in front of Chelsea will probably win the Premiership. I think they are brilliant players, and have proved that in the last five or six years,' he added, before discussing the two Chelsea centre-halves.
'Today is a day and I wouldn't try to draw conclusions from this one game. It is a setback for them, and a boost for us, and that is all. Terry has been quality for a long time and Carvalho I know from my Celtic days when Porto beat us in the Uefa Cup Final.
'My own view is that Chelsea are brilliant, they are really strong, they can play and move it, and have great players.'
It is those players that will have to pick themselves up quickly for our midweek Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge, and put this one firmly behind them.

No comments:

Post a Comment