Chelsea's defensive performance. Is it all down to Ancelotti?

You have to argue that yesterday at the Emirates was our best defensive display of the season. We were tight, compact, strong as a unit and difficult to break down. Just how much of our display last night was down to Carlo Ancelotti ?

Its common knowledge that the Italian mentality with football is to defend first, get that right and then build from there and looking at the peformance yesterday, you have to believe that he has had a major effect on the side.

Ok, apart from the blips at Wigan and Villa, Petr Cech and the backline have now gone 5 games without conceeding a goal and yesterday we never looked like we would either.

What was impressive for me was the team ethic yesterday. We defended as a unit with at times everyone bar Anelka and Drogba back behind the ball when we didn't have possession. The result of the way were set up by Ancelotti mean't that the likes of Lampard and Joe Cole were not involved in the game as they would of liked but the were part of the defensive unit and worked hard to ensure they couldn't break us down.

It really was at times like a blue brick wall in front of the Arsenal midfield & attack and they didn't know what to do when it came to the final third.

Yesterdays result means we have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United so far this season. I never did see the full game against Liverpool but the two games against United and yesterday against Arsenal showed the league that we are a strong physical side, dogged and determined and it will take something special to break us down.

Carlo Ancelotti has said that he hasn't altered much from Guus Hiddink's training methods but its plain to see that even if we are 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 up the emphasis is very much on keeping a clean sheet. Even Riccy Carvalho kept his bursts up the field to a minumum yesterday!!!

We have the best defensive record in the Premier League and with our manager and his Italian mentality its no surprise. One thing is for sure this season. Carlo Ancelotti has taken on board our finish to last season. He has looked at our quality going forward and has built very very strong foundations in addition to our firepower all over the pitch and has made us a formidable force this season.