Ancelotti unfazed by Guardiola rumours

Carlo Ancelotti is refusing to buy into rumours that Chelsea are preparing to replace him with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Speculation has been rife that Ancelotti could soon be out of a job after Chelsea’s worst run of form in several years, and Guardiola has been touted as a potential replacement for the Italian.

But while Ancelotti said he had heard the rumours about Guardiola, he insisted he was focused on returning Chelsea to the top of the table.

“I have heard of Pep Guardiola, to be frank,” said Ancelotti. “But you don’t have to ask me – the coach is always the last to know. Don’t ask me.”

“We are not interested. We focus on our training and our matches.”

Chelsea have taken just four points from their last five matches in the Premier League and were forced to come from a goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Sunday.

The club recently parted ways with assistant coach Ray Wilkins, while former Barcelona man Txiki Begiristain has been linked to the role of sporting director which will be vacated by Frank Arnesen at the end of the season.

But Ancelotti was coy about Begiristain joining the club, saying he was not even sure who the former Barcelona football director was.

“I don’t know this name. I think there was a player at Barcelona, but I don’t know what job he is doing now.”