Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti's future is firmly under the spotlight following the club's UEFA Champions League exit.
Future of Chelsea boss in doubt after European exit
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti's future is firmly under the spotlight following the club's UEFA Champions League exit.
Ancelotti, who guided the Blues to the Double during his first season at the helm, has been unable to repeat that success this term.
Tuesday night's defeat by Manchester United at the quarter-final stage in Europe ended their only realistic remaining hope of silverware this season with the Stamford Bridge outfit 11 points off the pace in the defence of their Premier League crown.
The £50million January signing of striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool has failed to have the desired impact for the West London outfit, with the Spain international hauled off after 45 minutes against the Red Devils after another shot-shy display.
And the national Press are united in their opinion that Ancelotti will be shown the door by owner Roman Abramovich in the summer, with Guus Hiddink, Jose Mourinho and Marco van Basten all linked with the post.
Business as usual
Chelsea would not be drawn on the future of the respected Italian tactician, insisting that their only focus is on their remaining seven Premier League games in which they are determined to secure a top-four finish.
A club spokesman said: "It's business as usual.
"The most important thing is to win all the games we can in the league and qualify for the Champions League."
Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay confirmed recently that the former AC Milan manager's position would be reviewed at the end of the season and the club have not deviated from that stance.
Turkey boss Hiddink is just one of the apparent contenders for a return to Stamford Bridge should Ancelotti be shown the door and has a strong bond with Abramovich after leading Chelsea to the FA Cup in 2009 during his brief spell at the helm.
Respect
But the Dutchman will not break his contract with the Turkish Football Federation, with a place in November's Euro 2012 play-offs in his sights.
"Guus will respect his contract with Turkey," his agent Cees Van Nieuwenhuizen told the
Daily Telegraph.
"And because the results are going the way they are it looks like Turkey will qualify for the play-offs if they draw with Belgium on June 3 and with Austria in September.
"If they do not qualify for the play-offs he has already said that he will go. But from a technical point of view it is not possible for him to join Chelsea right now.
"It has nothing to do with his relationship with Roman Abramovich, which is good, but Guus has never broken a contract and Roman understands the position."
