Roman Abramovich was angered at Chelseas failure to perform as they exited the Champions League to Jose Mourinhos Inter Milan this week, and Ancelotti admitted in the aftermath that his job was under scrutiny.

Ive worked for a long time in this environment and I know exactly what the expectations are, he said. Its normal that a manager is going to come under pressure if he loses a few matches.

Soccernet sources close to Abramovich have confirmed that the Chelsea owner called a team meeting to express his frustration with the players after the defeat and that Ancelotti will have to win the league to survive the axe.

Roman was upset with the players, for sure, the source said. He called the players to a team talk.

Ancelotti-s-future now depends on the league. He will need to win the league to survive.

Yet, should Ancelotti leave, Abramovich is running out of options for a replacement, with Guus Hiddink already having accepted the Turkey job.

Frank Rijkaard, currently with Galatasaray after spells with Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam and Barcelona, could come into contention for the role once more, according to the source.

Roman wouldnt have Mourinho back, thats for sure, he said. Rijkaard was a candidate before, but he decided he didnt want to take the job.

It has been widely suggested that Abramovich could now be willing to fund an overhaul of the squad this summer, but he is unwilling to join Real Madrid and Manchester City in paying hugely inflated fees.

Fernando Torres has been strongly linked and the Spain striker will be the top target if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, but the source believes Chelsea will be priced out of the bidding.

Roman Abramovich was angered at Chelseas failure to perform as they exited the Champions League to Jose Mourinhos Inter Milan this week, and Ancelotti admitted in the aftermath that his job was under scrutiny.

Ive worked for a long time in this environment and I know exactly what the expectations are, he said. Its normal that a manager is going to come under pressure if he loses a few matches.

Soccernet sources close to Abramovich have confirmed that the Chelsea owner called a team meeting to express his frustration with the players after the defeat and that Ancelotti will have to win the league to survive the axe.

Roman was upset with the players, for sure, the source said. He called the players to a team talk.

Ancelotti-s-future now depends on the league. He will need to win the league to survive.

Yet, should Ancelotti leave, Abramovich is running out of options for a replacement, with Guus Hiddink already having accepted the Turkey job.

Frank Rijkaard, currently with Galatasaray after spells with Netherlands, Sparta Rotterdam and Barcelona, could come into contention for the role once more, according to the source.

Roman wouldnt have Mourinho back, thats for sure, he said. Rijkaard was a candidate before, but he decided he didnt want to take the job.

It has been widely suggested that Abramovich could now be willing to fund an overhaul of the squad this summer, but he is unwilling to join Real Madrid and Manchester City in paying hugely inflated fees.

Fernando Torres has been strongly linked and the Spain striker will be the top target if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, but the source believes Chelsea will be priced out of the bidding.

Gunners captain Fabregas has been out since March 6 – missing the matches with Porto and Hull – due to a hamstring injury but is expected to pass a fitness test on Friday morning.

Tomas Rosicky is also anticipated to be fit following a groin problem, but Wenger says defender William Gallas has an endless calf injury.

Gallas has missed the last six games and is set to be out for at least two more matches – missing the game against West Ham and the match at Birmingham on March 27.

Cesc and Tomas have a final test tomorrow morning, Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday. They should be available for Saturday.

From the last game we dont lose anybody, so normally we should have Fabregas, Carlos Vela and Rosicky back. Plus of course we have Song coming back from suspension.

However, William Gallas will not be available this week or at Birmingham. It is going on and on. It is a concern.

It is an endless calf strain and so we need Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre to be highly ready to help us out.

Alex Song will be back from a two-match suspension against the Hammers and Carlos Vela could be added to the squad as Arsenal seek to enhance their title bid after their last-gasp 2-1 win at Hull last weekend.

Beckham, 34, saw his hopes of playing in a fourth World Cup finals evaporate late on Sunday night as he was stretchered off during AC Milans 1-0 victory over Chievo Verona.

Beckham was reported to be in tears in the Milan dressing room and manager Leondardo and a number of team-mates have expressed their concern for the player, whose international career could have come to an abrupt end.

While Capello is formally awaiting the results of scans before making a cast-iron decision on Beckhams availability, the England coach does not expect the midfielder to be a member of the 23-man squad that travels to South Africa.

We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup, said the England coach. I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support, as did Franco Baldini.

David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow. I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury.

Beckham told his official website: I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury. I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery.

The surgeon due to operate on Beckham on Monday, Dr Sakari Orava, says the injury will prevent the LA Galaxy midfielder, who is on loan at Milan, from playing for up to four months.

To start kicking and playing football about three months, Dr Orava said. For maximal performances and maximum kicks and jumps, maybe it takes one month more, three-to-four months before one is able to do light playing.

Its a total tear of the Achilles tendon. If there is any weakness then… a graft can be taken from the calf and put over the injury site to make it stronger. This kind of procedure is planned.

While Englands medical team will await the results of scans and Mondays planned operation, Milan are in no doubt that the serious injury will prevent Beckham from appearing in South Africa.

Dr Orava is the foremost specialist in the world for this kind of injury, we want to get David to see him as quickly as possible, Jean Pierre Meersseman, Milans club doctor, said. But as far as the World Cup is concerned, hes definitely out.

Beckham rejoined Milan on a second loan spell in January and is a popular figure at San Siro. Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani expects Beckham to be absent for five to six months but has already told the midfielder he will be welcomed back for a third spell in Serie A.

I gave him a big hug and told him that he is a part of our family and that, if he wants to come back to Milan next year, there will be a place for him here, Galliani said in the Times. Its horrible, for two consecutive years he has come to play for us for one reason only, to stay fit for the World Cup and to further his England career. And now something like this happens. Football can be so cruel.

Juventus reported Monday that medical tests on Manninger revealed a muscle strain.

Third-choice Antonio Chimenti played in Juves 3-3 draw with Siena on Sunday and will likely get the nod for the Europa League return game with Fulham and Juves next Serie A match against Sampdoria.

Also, Juve defender Jose Martin Caceres has an abdominal problem and will head to Barcelona for tests Tuesday since the Spanish club holds his rights.

Reports in the UK press claim that Liverpool are closely monitoring McLeishs contract talks with Birmingham and Soccernet has been told that the Scot represents the cheap option to replace Benitez.

McLeish has a buy-out clause of just 1 million in his contract, which expires in 18 months, which means that figure could now be negotiable, if Liverpool decided to move for the Blues boss.

However, Soccernet has also broken the story this week that Aston Villa manager Martin ONeill is the even bigger name in the frame, should Benitez join Juventus in the summer and therefore forfeit any compensation settlement.

There is a great deal of talk within the game that Martin ONeill is highly regarded by Liverpools American owners, an insider with contacts to the boardrooms of all the Premier League clubs told Soccernet.

Ive heard Alex McLeishs name mentioned, but Martin ONeill would be the much stronger candidate, and if you asked my opinion he would take the job if it were offered to him.

Benitez signed a new lucrative contract a year ago, committing him to the club until 2014, and Soccernet sources have already told us that it would cost 15 million in compensation to sack Benitez – and that is why Liverpool wont even think about sacking him.

Liverpool lost the first leg of their last 16 Europa League tie at Lille 1-0 on Thursday to intensify the pressure on Benitez. Even the most hardened Liverpool supporter who has been backing Benitez all season, must now realise that his days are numbered. Only his expensive compensation package is keeping him from any internal debate about his future.

However, if Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, the position Benitez has guaranteed, then his backing among the loyal fans will evaporate fast.

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have been trying, and failing, for some months to raise 100 million of new investment, but clearly no one is rushing to take a minority stake and then work with two other co-owners.

If there is no new investment, the summer brings a troubled time of trying once again to refinance the debt, and only a low budget new manager would be possible, while Hicks and Gillett cannot fail to be impressed how the former Scotland and Rangers manager McLeish has stablised Birmingham in eighth place on a modest transfer budget.

If Liverpools results continue to dive in the Premier League, it wont be long before Birmingham will be catching them up.

Pavlyuchenko had been unsettled for most of the season and looked set to leave during the January transfer window but stayed at the club and has now played a big part in Spurs push for Champions League qualification.

Jermain Defoe opened the scoring against Sam Allardyces men, then Pavlyuchenko doubled the lead before Christopher Samba pulled one back.

Hopes of a Blackburn comeback were dashed when Pavlyuchenko scored his eighth in his last six games and even Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who has been at loggerheads with the Russian at times during the campaign, was up celebrating.

Before the weekend, Redknapp set his side the target of 19 points to finish in fourth position this season, with Blackburn designated as a must-win fixture given a run-in that includes Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

The odds were with them too because Allardyces side have only recorded one league victory away from Ewood Park during the campaign, with only their home form getting them within sight of safety.

Despite their woeful record on the road, Rovers showed early attacking intent, largely due to David Dunn returning from a calf injury and making his first start since January.

His 50-yard box-to-box run required Spurs midfielder Wilson Palacios to track back into his own penalty area, then he could have earned a penalty for the visitors.

Dunn carried the ball into the area and Palacios won the ball fairly but Vedran Corluka cut across the midfielder at the same time, although World Cup referee Howard Webb decided to wave play on.

Spurs first chances came to Pavlyuchenko, preferred to Peter Crouch as Defoe returned from a tight hamstring.

Pavlyuchenkos first effort was stabbed into the ground and over after Benoit Assou-Ekotto burst into the area, then Gareth Bale crossed and he fired wide.

It meant Paul Robinson, granted a warm welcome from his former club, was not forced into a save before he was taken off with an injury to his left leg.

Jason Brown came off the bench to deputise and was nearly beaten shortly afterwards when Bale, who had the beating of Michel Salgado for pace, dashed around the Spanish veteran but fired wide.

Brown saved at full stretch before the break when Assou-Ekottos early cross from the left angled towards the bottom corner, then he parried a Defoe effort after Luka Modric sent him through.

But Defoe was on target in stoppage-time of the first half. Niko Kranjcars corner was flicked on by Corluka, who climbed above Martin Olsson, and Defoe was at the far post to tap home. It was his 23rd of the season.

Nikola Kalinic mis-controlled when he had sight of goal just after the break – and Spurs then punished Rovers in the 55th minute with the second goal.

Spurs were defending a corner when the move started, with Modric carrying the ball forward and finding Defoe. Defoe resisted the temptation to shoot and laid on Pavlyuchenko, whose finish went through Brown.

Modric could have added another when Sebastien Bassong carried the ball out of defence and found his team-mate – but the Croatia playmaker dragged his finish wide.

Bale felt he should have had a penalty when Salgado challenged but Webb pointed for a goalkick and did not book the Wales international.

Webb turned down another appeal when Bale went over a challenge by Morten Gamst Pedersen, with Samba then setting up a nervous finish when he headed home from Pedersens cross.

Pavlyuchenko, however, grabbed his second five minutes before the end when he clipped home Bales cross. He was denied a hat-trick when Samba cleared off the line, then Kalinic had an effort chalked off for handball.

The Arsenal manager refused to confirm whether he was willing to make an exception to his rule of offering only a one-year contract to players aged over 30. Gallas will turn 33 this summer.

I am not concerned, Wenger said. We have not found an agreement yet. I meet his agents again next Thursday and we will try to find a solution. I would like to keep all that secret about contract lengths. I feel I have to respect both parties and not to come out about the details of negotiations.

He is out of contract and can talk to whom he wants. I do not know if he has spoken to Roma. He is speaking to us and our desire is to keep him here. I think he wants to stay here.

Gallas and Cesc Fabregas, who has a hamstring injury, will miss the match away to Hull City on Saturday with a calf injury. Alexandre Song is suspended, while Tomas Rosicky is a doubt with a groin strain. Wenger and Arsenal have history with Hull in recent matches, notably last season when Fabregas was accused, and then cleared, of spitting at Brian Horton, the Hull assistant manager. This season, Samir Nasri was accused of stamping on Richard Garcia and was booked for shoving Stephen Hunt when Arsenal won 3-0.

Wenger denied there was animosity between the clubs. We do not focus on bad blood, he said. We just focus on our game and try to play well. If you look at what happened there was not a lot, nobody has been injured.

There was a little brawl at some stage where we got punished, them as well, but the game was not dirty. I feel there is respect. We just try to play football. We have to focus on what is the most important, which is that the people who pay to come to watch a game get something for their money. That is what we always try to do. I respect everybody in life, and I dont make any special issue of that.

While Quinn, the chairman, is confident that Sunderland will retain their status in the Barclays Premier League and can go on to establish themselves as a top-ten club, relegation would not only see Bruce remain in his role but result in a 40 per cent salary cut for every player at the Stadium of Light.

Bruces position became a source a debate amongst supporters during Sunderlands recent sequence of 14 league matches without victory, a run which ended with their 4-0 victory at home to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night. They are thirteenth in the table, six points clear of the bottom three.

I can assure you now that even if we dont win another game between now and the end of the season, Steve Bruce will be manager here next year, Quinn said on Thursday night. If we go down, hell still be the manager.

Since Bruce signed a three-contract last summer, Sunderland have broken their transfer record with the 10 million signing of Darren Bent and have beaten Liverpool and Arsenal, but they have also suffered from a rash of injuries, low confidence and a poor away record.

Yet Quinn understands the importance of embracing stability and his views are shared by Ellis Short, Sunderlands owner, who visited Wearside and spoke to Bruce and his squad this week.

Ellis lets us run the business and hes not affected by message boards or by media speculation, Quinn said. He trusts us as a group – and I include Steve in that group – that weve made the right decisions and that our policies are going the right way. Thankfully, hes a realist and understands that this game can be tough.

Aston Villa is a good example to follow. I can remember them having to win a couple of games late on in the season when I arrived back at Sunderland. They had tough times, but they also spent a lot of money because they believed in what Martin ONeill was doing and how he went about things.

Steve shares the same passion that the fans have, the owner has, that we all have. The way he carries himself and projects our club is everything we wanted. The pressure in the Premier League is incredible and there have been some tough knock-backs, but we think hes the right man to get this club where we all want it.

Should the worst happen, however, Sunderland have taken steps to protect themselves. Anybody who comes to this club has to agree to a 40 per cent deduction in the event of us getting relegated and its the same for senior staff and players already here who sign a new contract, Quinn said. People might think of it as Armageddon, but we would be safe financially.

The FA have confirmed that Gerrard will not face disciplinary action for the gesture, which came after he was booked for a foul. The incident was caught on camera, but the referee deemed it unworthy of further punishment.

Benitez, speaking in the build up to tomorrows Europa League match against Lille, maintained that Gerrards gesture was neither offensive nor aimed at the referee.

Sometimes you move your fingers, it was nothing, Benitez said. We are not considering it. All the players know they have to behave on the pitch. I was more worried about the silly fouls we were giving to Wigan.

The inquest into Liverpools defeat at the DW Stadium continues, with Dave Whelan, the Wigan owner, pinning the blame for their opponents stuttering form at the door of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the Liverpool co-owners. However, Whelans comments have drawn an angry response from Benitez. I do not talk about Wigan, he said. I prefer to concentrate on my team. He Whelan should talk about his own club.

Liverpool will fly to France this evening and Benitez hopes his side will prove that Mondays defeat was nothing more than a blip.

We had been working well in the last ten games, more or less, Benitez said. Sometimes these things happen. Now we have to move forward. Hopefully there will be a reaction in Lille. This is an opportunity to put things right and try to get a good result.

In football you sometimes prefer to rest but at this time it is good to have a match quickly after what happened at Wigan.