LONDON: Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admits the Blues thought they had victory wrapped up ahead of Aston Villa's late equaliser in a thriller at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

The Premier League champions, in the end, were held to a 3-3 draw by Villa after midfielder Ciaran Clark cancelled out John Terry's 89th-minute strike in stoppage time.

Dropping two points means Chelsea fail to break back into the top four and Ancelotti was frustrated to see his side concede a goal after a solid second-half display.

Chelsea took the lead in the 23rd minute through a penalty by Frank Lampard, but the visitors equalised in the 41st minute, also through a penalty by Ashley Young.

Villa stunned Chelsea two minutes after the break when striker Emile Heskey found the net but Didier Drogba made it 2-2 six minutes before the end. And then came the dramatic goals by Terry and Clark.

"I think everyone thought the game was finished there (after Terry's goal), but we needed to play again for five minutes and we needed to stay more in focus in those minutes," Ancelotti told Sky Sports.

"We managed to score in the last minute of the game but we needed to be focused until the end because we conceded a goal. We could have avoided the last minute with more focus, we could have won this game.

"It was a difficult game because Villa, for a start, applied strong pressure and it was a battle.

"When we were 2-1 down, I think we played very well, with pressure, with intensity and with spirit. We created a lot of chances. We are disappointed for this reason."

Despite the deflating result, Ancelotti insists his team are making progress and is already looking ahead to their midweek clash at Wolves.

"We are improving our football and coming back to more confidence in places," said the Italian. "Obviously, we are a little bit disappointed but we have to look forward to the next game, and stay focused on our game and on our play, and try to win."

Chelsea, now fifth in the table, sit six points adrift of leaders Manchester United but Ancelotti is adamant they are not out of the title race.

"The gap now is an important gap but I think working hard, we can come back and fight for the title."

Meanwhile, Ancelotti denied bust-up between Drogba and Terry at the final whistle yesterday.

"Everything is okay." Ancelotti also insisted their title chances had not ended by the draw.

LONDON: Manchester United leftback Patrice Evra is not complaining about the busy festive schedule. A clash with Stoke at OId Trafford on Wednesday will be United's fourth game in nine days, before a short break that precedes an FA Cup tie with Liverpool and a mouth-watering Premier League trip to Tottenham.

Not that Evra is complaining.

 

"Yes, it is difficult for the body. Yes, we are tired. But it is also a privilege," he said. "Some people have to get up at 6am and do something they don't like. This is England. It is the best football in the world."

Meanwhile, defender Rio Ferdinand insists they can be happy with their form. United were again scratchy for their win at West Brom over the weekend.

But Ferdinand insisted: "When you don't win, people say we are not playing well. In fact, we have probably played better than people give us credit for.

"Our problem has been that we have not managed to finish teams off.

"In the past, we have not been a team that has conceded goals late in games. We have done it in a few this season.

"Fingers crossed, we have turned the corner. We have started the new year in the right way. Hopefully we can continue that."