Carlo: Need to win against Spartak to focus on Premier League

Carlo Ancelotti spoke after the Blackburn game and immediately turned his focus onto Spartak Moscow in the Champions League this week. Quite rightly he has said that we need to get the job done this week to beat them, qualify and more or less win the group and then switch our focus back to the Premier League with some huge games coming up. He said:

It's very important to win against Spartak, We can qualify and we can also close the group and arrive in first place. And that will allow us to stay more in focus in the Premier League.

It's not just about resting players in the final two games. Without pressure you can also have less problems both mentally and physically which is good for the players So it's very important to get three points.

It will not be easy because in the away game they caused us a lot of problems – and we have to pay attention because they are really involved in the race for second place. But we play at home and we want to win."

It's nice to have been up and at it in the Champions League group and to get the group over with as early as possible rather than relying on other teams etc. If we do get the job done Tuesday then Carlo is right, the players will take that extra confidence into the important period coming up starting with Liverpool on Sunday.

KTBFFH