LONDON — Chelsea insisted it was “business as usual” amid widespread speculation Thursday that manager Carlo Ancelotti will leave the club at the end of the season following the club’s UEFA Champions League loss to Manchester United.

Ancelotti, who guided the Blues to an English Premier League (EPL) and FA Cup double during his first season at the helm, has been unable to repeat that success this term.

Tuesday night’s defeat at the quarter-final stage in Europe ended the club’s only realistic remaining hope of silverware this season with the team 11 points off the pace in the defense of its EPL crown.

The $81.7 million (£50 million) January signing of striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool has failed to have the desired impact for the west London outfit, with the Spain international substituted after 45 minutes at Old Trafford after another shot-shy display.

And the British newspapers were united in their opinion that Ancelotti will be shown the door by owner Roman Abramovich in the summer, with Guus Hiddink, Jose Mourinho and Marco van Basten all linked with the post.

Chelsea would not be drawn on the future of the respected Italian tactician, and insisted that its only focus was on the remaining seven EPL games to secure a top-four finish.

A club spokesman said, “It’s business as usual. The most important thing is to win all the games we can in the league and qualify for the Champions League.”

Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay confirmed recently that the former AC Milan manager’s position would be reviewed at the end of the season and the club has not deviated from that stance.Read more: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12040_6870458,00.html