Chelsea Manager Carlo Ancelotti: Ray Wilkins Was A 'Fantastic Assistant Coach'

Posted Saturday, November 13, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has spoken about former assistant coach Ray Wilkins for the first time since he was sacked by the club on Thursday.

Wilkins was told that his contract would not be renewed midway through the club's reserve team match against Bayern Munich on Thursday - and Ancelotti has stated that it was a decision made by the club.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the Italian said: "The club made this decision, I think it was a difficult decision for everyone but I have respect for this decision. I have trust in all the staff working with me, and now we have to move on.

"I spoke with the players to tell them the club made the decision, but as I said before we have to move on and stay focused. The players are in focus and will continue to stay focused."

Wilkins joined the Chelsea coaching staff for a second time in 2008 to work under former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, and stayed at the club to work with Dutchman Guus Hiddink and Ancelotti.

Ancelotti, who wrote in his recent autobiography that the club "couldn't have won a thing" without Wilkins last season, was keen to praise his former assistant when he spoke to reporters.

"He did a fantastic job and helped me and all the team to win the Double, so the first thing is to say a lot of thanks to him," he added.

"He is my friend, I have a fantastic relationship with him and I will have a fantastic relationship with him. He knew very well English football and has a lot of experience as assistant. His job he did very well."

There has been much speculation as to who will replace Wilkins as assistant coach at Stamford Bridge but manager Ancelotti was keen to ignore talk about a successor and instead focused on his gratitude to Wilkins.

"I want to say one thing," he said. "Ray was a fantastic assistant coach - I want to say thanks to him because he was a fantastic support last season and this season."