Ancelotti: We won’t miss Mikel

Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has stated that though the club may not sign new players during the January transfer window, he has enough materials to stand in for Nigerian playmaker, John Mikel Obi, and other African players joining their countries for the Nations Cup billed for Angola early next year.

Ancelotti maintained that his squad can cope, even with Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien and Mikel departing for the biennial tournament, stressing that he will not ask Chelsea owner for new players in the January transfer window.

“I didn’t ask owner Roman for new players and he has not asked me if I want them. I have a lot of confidence in my strikers and other players. Not only Drogba, not only Kalou, not only injured Anelka or the departing midfielders. Also Sturridge and Borini. I think that we have good solutions internally. We don’t need new players in this moment,” Ancelotti said.

Commenting on the game against Fulham, Ancelotti noted: “Anelka is a small muscle problem but he is not ready to play these games, against Fulham also. If Didier Drogba is not here we can put other players in, Sturridge has a good opportunity to show his quality. He played against West Ham very well in the second half and against Birmingham can play from the beginning.

“We have some problems because we have to play without Anelka, Essien and Deco in these games but we have a possibility if we do 100 per cent, to win. It’s very important. We are in a very good position, we are four points top, it’s not our best moment because we didn’t play well the last games but for this we have to stay concentrated and focused to try to win.

“We play against very strong teams, Birmingham arrived from five consecutive victories and one draw. They are difficult to play, they are very strong and work hard for 90 minutes with a lot of pressure. It is a difficult game for us.”