Can Man United end Tottenham’s 100% start to the season at White Hart Lane on Saturday? Click here for Gavin Beech’s thoughts on the match plus all the best prices.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admits that the club’s ban on buying players could prove a problem in the future, but he hopes for a successful appeal.

The Blues have been banned from buying new players for 18 months after being found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break a contract with Lens when he joined Chelsea in 2007.

Ancelotti, who only took over this summer, acknowledges the punishment is severe, but he remains optimistic about a successful appeal.

“The decision was a surprise for me. But now the club are appealing, and we have to wait for a good result for us,” he said.

“We hope that they overturn the decision. Now, the transfer embargo is not a problem because we have a very good team and very good players – but in the future, we’ll have to wait and see.

“Now I have to think about my job and about my players. I haven’t spoken to owner Roman Abramovich about it, but it’s not necessary for me to do that. I don’t have to speak to Roman about this situation.”

Ancelotti denied suggestions that the decision to extend the long-term deals of several key payers such as John Terry, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba was because they feared a transfer ban was imminent.

“Getting players on long-term deals – given this decision – is very important. But that’s not about this decision,” he said.

“It’s more about the future of this club – to have John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole in this team and at this club for years to come.”

Can Man United end Tottenham’s 100% start to the season at White Hart Lane on Saturday? Click here for Gavin Beech’s thoughts on the match plus all the best prices.

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