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.”
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