Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has told his stars they must take advantage of their good fortune and exploit the recent slips from title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal. Ancelotti's side could have surrendered pole position in the Premier League last weekend after their match at Hull was postponed, but United could only draw at Birmingham and Arsenal were held at home by Everton. Those results left the Blues one point clear at the top with a game in hand on second placed United going into Saturday's clash with Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti admits he felt like a 'lucky man' when he saw that United and Arsenal had stumbled and he hopes Chelsea continue to get the rub of the green. 'I am a lucky man. Maybe, for a coach, it's better to be lucky than a good manager,' Ancelotti said on Friday. 'I think Manchester United and Arsenal drew difficult games and we maintained our position at the top of the table with a game in hand on Manchester United. 'This is good, but now we have to play and win. We can improve our position in the next few months. Sunderland will not be an easy game, but we can improve our position. We want to do that. 'Every team is dangerous. For the title, Arsenal are very close to us. But, if it's possible, we have to arrive in the game against Arsenal next month with more points than them. Then, we hope to beat them at home. 'Man City are doing very well and are a very dangerous team with a lot of quality, a lot of players with strong quality. We have to pay attention to them. I don't know if it's too early for them. If they do a good job, they can win the title. That's normal. 'Sunderland are a good team with a good coach. We did a fantastic match when we played them away against them. 'I think that, after that game, they improved and it'll be more difficult tomorrow because they are more compact as a team. 'They put a lot of strong pressure in midfield and we'll have to play fast because we want to avoid this pressure on our midfielders. But we hope to do the best to win. For us, it's important that we win.' Ancelotti also revealed that England midfielder Joe Cole's contract negotiations are still on-going despite reports that the talks were in danger of collapsing. Cole's current deal expires at the end of the season but Ancelotti expects him to stay. 'It's the same situation as last week,' he said. 'They are talking with the club. I think that Joe is very quiet, very calm and is training very well. 'He is improving his confidence and I think he'll do the second half of the season very well. It's important he signs. He's an important player - not only this year but in the future as well.' Chelsea will again be without Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi against Sunderland. All four are away on international duty in the African Nations Cup but Ancelotti says each player will return as soon as their respective countries are out of the tournament. 'I think that Drogba will come back in good condition when he returns,' Ancelotti added. 'Didier and Salomon will come back when their job is finished in the African Nations Cup. The day after they finish there, they are due back here.' 