Premier League five-asides

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League action

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he "tried to kill" one of his own players during his time at Chelsea (GETTY IMAGES)

Ancelotti for United?

The sun shines; you work with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, etc; the president may be difficult, but he does spend big. Carlo Ancelotti may be “unsettled”, but would you leave Real Madrid for a Manchester United side in need of rebuilding but with parsimonious owners?

Chelsea’s Victorian values

Jose Mourinho’s complaint that West Ham played “19th-century football” when angling for a point at Stamford Bridge sounds even more churlish after his team bored in Madrid. At least Sam Allardyce had the excuse that Chelsea have far superior resources to his team; Atletico’s wage bill is a third of Chelsea’s.

ECB has the right idea

The Football Association, concerned at the number of foreign players coming into the still nascent Women’s Super League, should borrow an idea from the England and Wales Cricket Board. Counties are given cash bonuses for picking England-qualified players. It is within EU law and already proving a success.

Belgium’s Januzaj dilemma

With a World Cup looming, the timing of Adnan Januzaj’s declaration for Belgium does seem expedient. With Kevin Mirallas already suggesting the Manchester United youngster should not go to Brazil, coach Marc Wilmots has to decide whether Januzaj’s talent outweighs the risk to team spirit.

Get more women on board

An eye operation meant Heather Rabbatts could attend only three of last year’s six FA Board meetings; the other three went ahead without a single female voice. Which rather underlines why the 12-person panel needs another woman on it.