Ancelotti: We’re rich but poor!

PRESSURE ... Carlo Ancelotti

CARLO ANCELOTTI says he is facing the Chelsea axe because his squad is not good enough.

And that claim will stun owner Roman Abramovich, whose current stars cost a staggering £271.65million in transfer fees alone.

Boss Ancelotti reckons his team will finish the season empty-handed because he did not have enough cover to cope with a mid-term injury crisis.

He said: "I don't think the squad was good enough this year.

"At the start of the season, we couldn't have envisaged having very important players out at the same time.

"We struggled to manage when we were without Lampard, Drogba, Essien, Terry and Alex.

"At one point this season we had to put right-back Paulo Ferreira in the middle of defence because we had lost all our other centre-backs.

"You cannot think at the beginning of the season that you would have all these players out. In the bad moments, it was difficult for us to move on without these players and I think it cost us quite a few points.

"It wasn't just their technical quality which we missed but also their personality and their character."

Latest figures show Chelsea have splashed £185m in the last five years putting them behind Manchester City, Spurs and Liverpool in the big-spenders league.

The Blues submitted a squad list of just 21 players, including three goalkeepers, to the Premier League while none of their Under-21 stars is currently in contention for a place in the team.

Yet Ancelotti still insists he was right to go along with Abramovich's plan to trim the squad which won the League and FA Cup double last year.

And he claims he has no regrets at dumping established internationals Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Joe Cole, Deco and Juliano Belletti just to get the wage bill down.

Ancelotti added: "I agreed with the club's philosophy to replace very important players with youngsters. Last summer was a good time to do that.

"Before our difficult moment we gradually used those young players like Kakuta, Sturridge and McEachran.

"But in the difficult moment it was harder to put the responsibility on them and that is why we bought Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January."

Ancelotti now concedes the title race was lost to Manchester United during a desperate run of form in November and December when they took just 10 points from 12 Premier League games.

He said: "In the last couple of months we have done very well in the Premier League and won a lot of games.

"We are very close to Arsenal and not so far from Manchester United. Two months ago, to be in this position was just a dream.

"But we're still eight points behind United with only six games to go. That gap does not allow us to think we can win the title.

"Maybe we can finish second - but it's not important for Chelsea if we are second or third. At the start of the season my dream is only to win, not to finish second place.

"The first target for Chelsea is to win the title. The next is to reach a position that allows us to play in the Champions League next season."

Ancelotti has set his team a target of winning all six of their remaining games, starting with tonight's home match against struggling Birmingham.

But even maximum points will not save him from the sack at the end of the season and he is now refusing to discuss his future despite admitting he will not have a problem if he is replaced by Abramovich. Ancelotti added: "Obviously I have a plan for next season but it's not good to reveal it now.

"I have not spoken to the players about it and I'm not involved in extending their contracts.

"But they are all good professionals and they understand that sometimes in football the manager can change. They are working with me at the moment and maybe will work with me in the future or maybe they will work with another coach."

November's defeat at Birmingham was one result which the Chelsea might look back on as ultimately costing them their title.

Ancelotti admitted: "That game was one of our best performances this season. We didn't win and were really unlucky."

Alex McLeish's men have taken seven points from nine to haul themselves out of the drop zone - following a nightmare run after their Carling Cup triumph.

Ancelotti said: "They're not out of fighting from relegation entirely, so they need to take a point. It will be a tough game.

"They have good organisation and will try and play on the counter-attack, as they did against us in their home game."

I got two, babe

Hands-on ... Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

PREGNANT MARIAH CAREY shows her twins bump in a loving nude photoshoot with her hubby.

The pop diva, just days away from having a boy and girl, posed for a series of intimate snaps with proud dad-to-be NICK CANNON.

In one shot music producer and rapper Nick, host of America's Got Talent, wraps his arms around Mariah from behind.

In another he nuzzles up against her tummy, showing the huge tattoo he has of her name across his back.

Mariah said she had been "elated" to find out she was expecting twins, adding: "I'm so excited to meet our babies and I'm looking forward to being a mother.

"Nick will be a hands-on dad. He already reads stories to my tummy."

Carey free ... singer Mariah proudly shows off her bump

The shots - taken by photographer pal Kristofer Buckle - make Mariah the latest celeb to pose for a pregnancy shoot.

Meanwhile SIMON COWELL has revealed Mariah will be involved "in some form" in X Factor USA. He added: "Her idea was to be the judge of the judges."

Tatt's my girl ... Nick Cannon cuddles up to wife Mariah

Raifal AK-47 diperbuat daripada kristal

SEORANG wanita memegang raifal AK-47 yang diperbuat daripada kristal Swarovski ciptaan Nicola Bolla.

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MILAN, Itali - Kristal mewah Swarovski sinonim dengan barang kemas, ukiran elegan dan candelier tetapi seorang pengukir, Nicola Bolla, menggunakan kristal tersebut untuk menghasilkan pelbagai arca yang menakutkan.

Menerapkan tema kematian, sebanyak 15 arca yang dihasilkan pengukir terkenal berusia 47 tahun itu termasuk raifal AK-47, tengkorak, tulang rusuk dan tulang paha dipamerkan kepada umum sempena Minggu Seni Reka Milan minggu lalu.

Dia menjadi popular kerana menggunakan bahan yang mewah dan cantik termasuk berlian untuk menghasilkan pelbagai objek termasuk mangkuk tandas. - Agensi

Bangkai makhluk asing ditemui di Rusia

KLIP video di laman YouTube menunjukkan bangkai makhluk asing ditemui di kawasan bersalji di Republik Buryatia, Rusia.

ULAN-UDE - Satu klip video yang bocor di Internet menunjukkan satu bangkai mahkluk asing ditemui di wilayah Siberia, Rusia, lapor laman Allnewsweb.com kelmarin.

Bangkai berkenaan ditemui di kawasan bersalji selepas satu objek besar dipercayai objek terbang tidak dikenali (UFO) bercahaya merah jambu dan biru menjunam ke Bumi sebelum terhempas di wilayah Irkutsk lebih sebulan lalu.

Kejadian itu disaksikan ratusan penduduk setempat manakala satu pasukan terdiri daripada beberapa ejen perkhidmatan rahsia dan pegawai Kementerian Sains Rusia tiba di lokasi kejadian beberapa jam kemudian.

Insiden yang jarang berlaku itu turut mendapat liputan meluas di Rusia termasuk agensi berita rasmi Interfax tetapi ia dipinggirkan oleh media Barat, dipercayai bagi menyembunyikannya daripada pengetahuan umum.

Klip video tersebut yang menunjukkan bangkai makhluk asing yang ditemui di wilayah Republik Buryatia, Siberia, tidak jauh tempat UFO itu terhempas di wilayah Irkutsk kini boleh ditonton di laman YouTube.

Makhluk asing itu terselamat dalam nahas udara itu ia tetapi mati tidak lama kemudian ekoran iklim sejuk Rusia yang ekstrem. - Agensi

Ancelotti bakal dipecat

ANCELOTTI menjadi pengendali skuad The Blues sejak tahun 2009.

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LONDON – Pemilik Chelsea, Roman Abramovich dilaporkan hanya menunggu masa untuk berlepas ke Belanda.

Bukan mahu ‘makan angin’ tetapi tujuan Abramovich adalah bagi mendapatkan pengurus baru untuk menggantikan tempat Carlo Ancelotti yang menjadi pengendali skuad The Blues sejak tahun 2009.

Difahamkan, dua jurulatih, Marco van Basten dan Guus Hiddink kini berada dalam senarai Abramovich untuk dibawa masuk menjadi pengurus kelab yang berpangkalan di Stamford Bridge itu.

Hiddink berjaya menarik perhatian Abramovich selepas jurulatih skuad kebangsaan Turki itu melaksanakan tugas dengan baik ketika menjadi pengurus sementara Chelsea pada 2009 selepas Felipe Scolari dipecat.

Tidak ketinggalan, Van Basten, 46, juga berada dalam radar Abramovich.

Sebelum ini, Van Basten merupakan jurulatih skuad kebangsaan Belanda sehingga 2008 dan selepas itu dia menerima tawaran bagi membimbing Ajax Amsterdam.

Namun, kedudukan Van Basten sebagai jurulatih Ajax tidak kekal lama apabila dia dipecat setahun kemudian kerana gagal membawa kelab tersebut layak beraksi dalam saingan Liga Juara-Juara.

Hasratnya bagi menjadi pengarah teknikal Sporting Lisbon selepas itu juga tidak kesampaian kerana gagal mendapat undian tertinggi bagi memikul tugas tersebut.

Disebabkan itu, Chelsea kini menjadi buruan utama Van Basten untuk meneruskan kariernya selaku jurulatih.

Selain Hiddink dan Van Basten, beberapa lagi nama turut dikaitkan bagi menggantikan tempat Ancelotti dalam saingan musim depan.

Antaranya ialah bekas jurulatih dan penggendali Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) dan bekas jurulatih Inter Milan, Rafael Benitez. – Agensi

Bas unik umpama limousin

BAS unik dipamerkan pada Pameran Dunia Persatuan Pengangkutan Antarabangsa di Dunia yang bermula 10 April hingga semalam.

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DUBAI - Satu kumpulan pereka Belanda dari Universiti Delft TU termasuk bekas angkasawan negara itu, Wubbo Ockels berjaya mencipta bas unik yang bernilai AS$18.75 juta (RM56.70 juta), lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Bas unik itu umpama limousin tetapi ia mempunyai enam tayar dan boleh membawa 23 penumpang manakala panjang kenderaan tersebut adalah 4.57 meter.

Kenderaan tersebut boleh bergerak selaju 255 kilometer sejam, mempunyai 12 pintu, dijana dengan satu motor elektrik dan bateri litium polimer.

Bentuk luaran kenderaan itu yang aerodinamik membantu ia menggunakan bahan bakar dengan efisen.

Ketua jurutera reka bentuk bas itu ialah Antonia Terzi yang pernah bekerja dengan pasukan kereta lumba Formula Satu, BMW Williams.

Projek pembinaan bas itu mengambil masa selama tujuh tahun yang bermula pada 2004. - Agensi

Salary's just in! Time to head to #JariSpa for a goood spa session. It's RM55 at #MilkADeal

Salary's just in! Time to head to #JariSpa for a goood spa session. It's RM55 at #MilkADeal

Time for a get away and this time, I'm going to GoldCoast. Too affordable to be true. #AAXGoldCoast

Time for a get away and this time, I'm going to GoldCoast. Too affordable to be true. #AAXGoldCoast

German Billionaire Offers World's Fastest Long-Range Superyacht for $85 Million

German eco-industrialist Guido Krass is offering to sell his 241-ft. Silver Zwei (above), the world's fastest long-range superyacht, for €59 million (about $85 million). Designed to the billionaire's specifications by Monaco's famed Espen Oeino, the Silver Zwei is about as an environmentally friendly as a yacht of its size and speed can be.

That means high fuel efficiency, which is quite handy when crossing the Atlantic at a cool 22 knots. The yacht's light, airy interior has accommodations for 20 guests in nine cabins including a large owner's suite with private lounge and veranda deck. Earth tones and clean white spaces with orange accents abound.

Luxury touches are in ample supply including an open-air cinema and Jacuzzi on the sundeck, a large sunpad which converts to a dance floor with discotheque lighting and sound systems, a sea level beach club with integrated sauna, and a helipad on the foredeck. Equipped with advanced security and communications systems, she's ready for a new billionaire owner to take the helm.

Anak remukkan kereta bapa RM1.35 juta

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BROKDORF, Jerman - Seorang remaja berusia 20 tahun hilang kawalan menyebabkan kereta sport bapanya yang berharga £275,000 (RM1.35 juta) remuk akibat terbabas di sebatang jalan raya di sini, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Namun, remaja tersebut dan seorang penumpang wanita berumur 19 tahun hanya mengalami cedera ringan selepas kereta sport Gumpert Apollo itu terbabas baru-baru ini.

Seorang jurucakap polis berkata: "Kereta itu remuk sepenuhnya dan hanya bahagian penumpang yang masih berada dalam keadaan baik."

Pihak berkuasa kini melakukan siasatan bagi mengetahui sama ada remaja itu memandu dengan laju di kawasan yang mempunyai had kelajuan 80 kilometer sejam.

Kereta sport itu merupakan salah sebuah kereta yang paling laju di dunia.

Ia mampu memecut dari 0 hingga 100 kilometer sejam dalam tempoh 2.8 saat. - Agensi