Carlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea's alarming slump has taken its toll on him as he looks to lead the faltering Barclays Premier League champions to back-to-back wins for the first time in two months.

The Blues host Aston Villa on Sunday having finally ended their worst run of league results in 11 years with a 1-0 victory over Bolton on Wednesday night.

A first win in seven top-flight games eased the pressure on manager Ancelotti, who had received the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich following Monday's limp defeat at Arsenal.

Ancelotti is well aware Abramovich's patience is not without limit, however, and admits he had felt the pressure.

"It was a hard period - that's normal," said the Italian, whose fourth-placed side will drop back out of the Champions League spots if Tottenham beat Fulham tomorrow.

"It was a very difficult period.

"We have to keep going now. We have to maintain good focus on our training and on our games."

Rather than sack Ancelotti, Abramovich may now decide to back him in the January transfer window.

A defender is the Chelsea boss's number one target should the knee injury that has sidelined Alex continue to rule the Brazilian out next month.

Bolton's Gary Cahill is rumoured to be top of the list while reports in Portugal have claimed the Blues have had a £17million bid for Benfica's David Luiz knocked back.

And despite Branislav Ivanovic being suspended against Villa after foolishly getting booked in his final match before the mid-season yellow card amnesty, Ancelotti is in no rush to splash Abramovich's cash.

"We didn't speak about this but we have one month," he said.

"(If) we need to have some players, I said a lot of times that we are able to do it."

There will not be wholesale changes, of course, which means Ancelotti must continue to try to get the best out of his existing squad.

"We are not at our best, obviously - the best condition, the best confidence, or the best atmosphere," he said.

"But I think we can improve - we have to improve."

And Ancelotti is refusing to obsess over the form of Manchester United as he tries to figure out a way of hauling Chelsea back into the title race.

"We don't have to look at United," said the Chelsea boss, whose side are four points behind unbeaten leaders United having played a game more.

"This is a very difficult championship because every game can have a difficulty.

"It's a Premier League with a lot of balance, so nothing is decided now."