Ancelotti not giving up on title

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has said Chelsea have to win their last nine games to have any chance of defending their Premier League crown.

Late goals by David Luiz and Ramires inflicted a 2-0 win over Manchester City to guide Chelsea into third spot.

And despite trailing leaders Manchester United by nine points, Ancelotti said: “We have to try to win every game.

“There’ll be an international break and when the players come back, I’d like to see the same spirit and attitude.”

City started the day in third place above Chelsea and it looked likely that Roberto Mancini’s team, shorn of the injured Carlos Tevez, would cement their place behind United and second-placed Arsenal with a valuable point at Stamford Bridge.

However, their hard-working defence was slowly worn down after a bright start and after the introduction of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the second half, City finally paid the penalty for their defensive approach.

Drogba’s free-kick was nodded in by the impressive Luiz for the crucial opener on 78 minutes, before Ramires made sure of the points with a fantastic solo goal in injury time.

“It was a very good result and performance,” Ancelotti told BBC Sport. “We are showing good spirit and good football and all the players are fit.

“It was important to put pressure up front and not concede. We could have done better in the final third in the first half but after the break we did better and we put the pressure on.

“Luiz and Ramires – fantastic performances and fantastic goals. Ramires, in particular. He’s improving very well.

“Luiz’s goal was a surprise. Defensively, he worked with fantastic tempo for a long time and his performance was really good.”

The Italian boss also defended his £50m signing Fernando Torres, who looked short of confidence and spark as the Spaniard continued his drought of goals before being substituted with 20 minutes remaining.

“He doesn’t have to lose his confidence,” Ancelotti insisted. “We have to be patient, and so does he. The goal will arrive.”

Meanwhile Manchester City coach David Platt was frustrated to leave London without any points but was adamant the players would continue to battle on until the end of the season.

“In the first half we started pretty well and then Chelsea started to dominate possession,” Platt told BBC Sport.

“We were disappointed to concede from a set-piece because we had been quite resolute back there.

“Everybody’s dropping points so we’ll continue along our road but we want to stay within the top four.

“We’re disappointed because we defended pretty resolutely. The aim is to get as many points in our last eight games and we’ll see where that gets us. We should finish in the top four.”