Ancelotti may miss the Blackburn match – Wilkins takes charge

The Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is presently in Italy to be with his father who is seriously ill, so Ray Wilkins is taking charge of training, and may have to lead the team against Blackburn this weekend if Carlo can’t make it back in time.

Wilkins said: “I am sincerely hoping Carlo will be back, his father unfortunately is not in the best of conditions, but I am hoping Carlo will be back with us and his father has improved,”

“If that’s not the case I will look after the team with no problem whatsoever. I spoke to Carlo last night, his father was stable and we are keeping our fingers crossed, our thoughts are with him.”

Frank Lampard found his scoring boots again against Atletico Madrid, and although it was just a penalty it will have given him a boost to see his name on the scoresheet at last, but Wilkins was quick to point out that Lampard does a lot more for the team than just score goals.

“Frank is a world-class footballer, “said Wilkins. “and when someone we normally see score lots of goals doesn’t, then people keep thinking his form is on the wane, but the other things Frank gives us, his defensive qualities, his making of goals, so his contribution to the team has been first class and we weren’t overly concerned.

“He will always score because he has the quality, but what else he gives to the team and club is first class,”

Let’s hope he can carry on and score again this weekend!