Chelsea denied clear penalty - Ancelotti

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said his side deserved a penalty in the 2-1 Champions League last-16 defeat at Inter on Wednesday and was confident his team would reach the quarter-finals.

Diego Milito gave the hosts an early lead in the first leg before Salomon Kalou equalised for the Premier League leaders and Esteban Cambiasso blasted a 55th-minute winner for Inter.

Kalou went down five metres out under Walter Samuel's challenge just before half-time at a rocking San Siro but his appeals were waved away.

"I think it was a penalty in the first half but it's a penalty when the referee whistles," Ancelotti told a news conference.

"We wanted to play a game like we did. We did well, we leave with a result which is not positive but not dreadful.

"In the second game we will attack and try to score goals from the beginning until the end," added the Italian after his return to the famous stadium where he spent eight years as Milan coach.

Chelsea dominated for much of the first half with Didier Drogba crashing a free-kick against the bar among other chances.

"I think we can say we were unlucky this evening and we hope it will be better in the future.

"We played a good game, with personality and courage. We have to do the same in the next game with Inter," said Ancelotti of the second leg on March 16.