Ferguson not surprised by Ancelotti’s good start

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CARLO Ancelotti’s impressive start to life at Chelsea has not surprised Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The pair lock horns for the first time in the English Premier League this season at Stamford Bridge tomorrow when United look to leapfrog Chelsea, who have established a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Chelsea’s start is more noteworthy given Ancelotti’s only previous experience of the English game was as an opposition player or coach.

But it is only what Ferguson anticipated once Roman Abramovich had decided who would succeed Guus Hiddink in the summer. “I thought Ancelotti would do well,” he said.

“He was a great coach at AC Milan. He won the European Cup twice and brought a wealth of experience with him to Chelsea.”

Chelsea look set to be able to trade in the January transfer window after the Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed to suspend their Fifa-imposed transfer ban until a final decision is made in the case of the signing of Gael Kakuta.

Fifa banned the Blues from any transfer activity for the next two periods of transfer activity in early September after they were found guilty of inducing Kakuta to breach his contract with French club Lens.