We have to improve intensity – Ancelotti

CHELSEA: Manager Carlo Ancelotti believes his players will have to stop taking their foot off the accelerator during games if they are to retain their Barclays Premier League title.

The Blues have established a five-point gap at the top of the table with almost a quarter of the season gone.

Yet Ancelotti, who clinched the title last season in his first year in charge, has voiced his concerns recently that his team are not performing to their potential.

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The Londoners had to rely on a late goal from Salomon Kalou to seal a 2-0 victory over Wolves last week and have been guilty of easing off on their opponents at times this season – most notably against Stoke and Blackpool.

Ancelotti thinks his team will have to be more ruthless in closing out matches if they are to claim victory in the key battles against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal that lie ahead.

“We have started the season well but I think we can play better because we played very well in some parts of some games but not continuously,” the Italian said.

“We have to play 90 minutes how we want to play. We have to improve our play and our intensity. We can’t just play for 45 minutes like we did against Wolves. We want to play well for the whole of the match and we haven’t been able to do that so far this season.”

Chelsea, who are at Blackburn today, have under-performed in their last two away league matches – defeat at title rivals Manchester City and a goalless draw at Aston Villa.