Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to attend Arsenal game

Ancelotti oversaw Chelsea‘s Champions League win over Marseille on Tuesday

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will attend Sunday’s match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge despite the death of his father Giuseppe.

Giuseppe passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday night, with his son at his side, and the funeral is on Saturday.

“Everyone at Chelsea sends our deepest condolences to Carlo and his family. They are in our thoughts at this time,” read a statement on the club’s website.

Assistant manager Ray Wilkins will take Friday’s pre-match press conference.

Ancelotti oversaw Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Marseille at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday – a result the Italian feels got his side’s season back on track following two successive defeats.

606: DEBATE Deepest condolences to Carlo and his family SuperbFrank

After a run of six successive victories to start their Premier League and Champions League campaigns in emphatic fashion, the Blues were knocked out of the Carling Cup following a 4-3 home defeat by Newcastle on 22 September.

Three days later, the west Londoners lost 1-0 at Manchester City, their first league loss since the same opposition beat them at Stamford Bridge on 27 February.

Despite that setback at Eastlands, Ancelotti’s men remain top of the Premier League table, three points clear of second-place Manchester United and four points ahead of Arsenal, who are third.