Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is not sweating over the loss of club captain John Terry, because Branislav Ivanovic is back to provide cover.
Terry will miss Sunday's Premier League game with Stoke City after being sent-off in last weekend's disappointing defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Ivanovic has been absent for a number of weeks after limping off in last month's draw with Blackburn Rovers, but Ancelotti believes the Serbian has returned to full fitness just in time to cover for the loss of the Blues' captain.
Ivanovic has played right-back for the majority of the season in the absence of Jose Bosingwa, but Ancelotti is a firm admirer of his ability in the centre — his natural position.
"John Terry is an important absence for us but now we have Ivanovic fit we can substitute him into the centre position very well because Ivanovic is a centre-back," Ancelotti told reporters.
"He played a lot of games as a right-back but he has the quality to be a centre-back, so for this we will not have a problem."
Ancelotti also revealed that left-back Ashley Cole is ready to return to the starting lineup. The England international has been out for almost two months after picking up an ankle injury against Everton, but after his substitute role last weekend is now approaching full fitness.
"Ashley has a realistic chance to start because he is fit and he wants to play," he said.
"He has the desire to play, because he was out for a long time and he has the will to play."
Terry will miss Sunday's Premier League game with Stoke City after being sent-off in last weekend's disappointing defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Ivanovic has been absent for a number of weeks after limping off in last month's draw with Blackburn Rovers, but Ancelotti believes the Serbian has returned to full fitness just in time to cover for the loss of the Blues' captain.
Ivanovic has played right-back for the majority of the season in the absence of Jose Bosingwa, but Ancelotti is a firm admirer of his ability in the centre — his natural position.
"John Terry is an important absence for us but now we have Ivanovic fit we can substitute him into the centre position very well because Ivanovic is a centre-back," Ancelotti told reporters.
"He played a lot of games as a right-back but he has the quality to be a centre-back, so for this we will not have a problem."
Ancelotti also revealed that left-back Ashley Cole is ready to return to the starting lineup. The England international has been out for almost two months after picking up an ankle injury against Everton, but after his substitute role last weekend is now approaching full fitness.
"Ashley has a realistic chance to start because he is fit and he wants to play," he said.
"He has the desire to play, because he was out for a long time and he has the will to play."
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