Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a warning to his rivals at home and abroad by claiming he is a better manager a year on from taking over at Chelsea and, as such, can steer the club to the first Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League Treble in their history.
The Italian enjoyed a hugely successful first season at Stamford Bridge, winning the title and the FA Cup, and ahead of the new campaign, which begins with Sunday's Community Shield contest against Manchester United at Wembley, feels sure there is more to come – not only from his squad, but also himself.
"I had doubts last year, when I started, but now I have more knowledge about the team and club and about the atmosphere in England and the teams here and so I think we will start the season in a different situation," said Ancelotti, who had managed in Italy for 14 years before his arrival in England last June, most notably at Milan where he won the Champions League twice and Serie A once. "I think so [that he is a better manager]. Last year was a fantastic experience for me and I have improved because of it."
Being holders will, Ancelotti believes, make retaining the league and FA Cup "more difficult" for Chelsea, but he sees no reason why they cannot. He has also backed his team to end their long pursuit of the Champions League, which last season ended at the first knockout stage with defeat to the eventual winners, Internazionale.
"Last year every player did their best and we want to do the same again," he said. "We plan to be competitive and do better in the Champions League."
Chelsea's preparation for the new campaign has hardly been ideal, with the team having lost their last three pre-season fixtures, most recently Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Hamburg.
Ancelotti is not overly concerned, however, and has instead put the poor run of form down to lack of sharpness among his players, especially those who only returned to the club at end of last month having featured at the World Cup.
To that end, the 51-year-old has broken rank with many of his fellow Premier League managers, in particular Harry Redknapp, by claiming next week's international friendlies can be a benefit ahead of the opening weekend of the season.
"It's not a problem," he insisted. "The players who came back on 26 July need to play more and if they have the possibility then that is good. These games can improve their condition."
One player who looks set to be part of Chelsea's squad when they begin the defence of their title against West Bromwich Albion next Saturday is Ramires. The Brazil midfielder is believed to have passed a medical at the club's Cobham base on Thursday ahead of a £18.3m move from Benfica. The 23-year-old last night described a move to Chelsea as a "proposition that was impossible to reject".
Ancelotti declined to discuss the Ramires transfer and instead focused on the Community Shield, which Chelsea won last season on penalties against United in what was his first competitive match in charge of the Londoners. "For both teams it's an important game," said Ancelotti. "Also, United could again be our most important opponents this season so need to beat them when we can."
The Italian enjoyed a hugely successful first season at Stamford Bridge, winning the title and the FA Cup, and ahead of the new campaign, which begins with Sunday's Community Shield contest against Manchester United at Wembley, feels sure there is more to come – not only from his squad, but also himself.
"I had doubts last year, when I started, but now I have more knowledge about the team and club and about the atmosphere in England and the teams here and so I think we will start the season in a different situation," said Ancelotti, who had managed in Italy for 14 years before his arrival in England last June, most notably at Milan where he won the Champions League twice and Serie A once. "I think so [that he is a better manager]. Last year was a fantastic experience for me and I have improved because of it."
Being holders will, Ancelotti believes, make retaining the league and FA Cup "more difficult" for Chelsea, but he sees no reason why they cannot. He has also backed his team to end their long pursuit of the Champions League, which last season ended at the first knockout stage with defeat to the eventual winners, Internazionale.
"Last year every player did their best and we want to do the same again," he said. "We plan to be competitive and do better in the Champions League."
Chelsea's preparation for the new campaign has hardly been ideal, with the team having lost their last three pre-season fixtures, most recently Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Hamburg.
Ancelotti is not overly concerned, however, and has instead put the poor run of form down to lack of sharpness among his players, especially those who only returned to the club at end of last month having featured at the World Cup.
To that end, the 51-year-old has broken rank with many of his fellow Premier League managers, in particular Harry Redknapp, by claiming next week's international friendlies can be a benefit ahead of the opening weekend of the season.
"It's not a problem," he insisted. "The players who came back on 26 July need to play more and if they have the possibility then that is good. These games can improve their condition."
One player who looks set to be part of Chelsea's squad when they begin the defence of their title against West Bromwich Albion next Saturday is Ramires. The Brazil midfielder is believed to have passed a medical at the club's Cobham base on Thursday ahead of a £18.3m move from Benfica. The 23-year-old last night described a move to Chelsea as a "proposition that was impossible to reject".
Ancelotti declined to discuss the Ramires transfer and instead focused on the Community Shield, which Chelsea won last season on penalties against United in what was his first competitive match in charge of the Londoners. "For both teams it's an important game," said Ancelotti. "Also, United could again be our most important opponents this season so need to beat them when we can."
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