As the new season arrives, Branislav Ivanovic is hoping he can repeat the form of last year, in whichever position he is selected by manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The Serbian defender was voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year last season after his impressive displays at right-back, but it is at the centre of defence where he has featured so far in pre-season alongside John Terry.
Although 'Iva' was withdrawn with a cut eye against Hamburg on Wednesday, he will be fit for Sunday's Community Shield game against Manchester United at Wembley.
Ricardo Carvalho is an experienced alternative should Ancelotti wish to send the former Lokomotiv Moscow man back out wide, though that would be at the expense of Paulo Ferreira who has performed solidly in his two pre-season outings.
Add into the mix the imminent return to fitness Jose Bosingwa, and it is understandable the 26-year-old is taking nothing for granted.
'I don't look at it like a battle. Jose is a fantastic player, he has been injured almost a year and we are waiting for him to be fit again so that he can help the team, that is the most important thing,' Ivanovic said.
'I am here to play wherever the manager says, and for me it is good because I can play in two positions.
'For me last season was a great season, but every season you can do better and I will give my maximum and hope I can give the club more than last season. Every time you win you want to show next year you are better, so we must do that.'
The first test of the new campaign comes on Sunday against Manchester United at Wembley, and while neither side looks to be completely match fit yet, owing to World Cup commitments, Ivanovic is looking forward to the occasion as pre-season comes to an end.
'I feel good, some of us have only just started pre-season which is a very important period. It is the base for a long season, and I feel okay.
'It is always a tough game against Man United, but I think we will be as ready as we can and we need to give our maximum against them. Next season is going to be tough and we will have to be ready for that.'
The Serbian defender was voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year last season after his impressive displays at right-back, but it is at the centre of defence where he has featured so far in pre-season alongside John Terry.
Although 'Iva' was withdrawn with a cut eye against Hamburg on Wednesday, he will be fit for Sunday's Community Shield game against Manchester United at Wembley.
Ricardo Carvalho is an experienced alternative should Ancelotti wish to send the former Lokomotiv Moscow man back out wide, though that would be at the expense of Paulo Ferreira who has performed solidly in his two pre-season outings.
Add into the mix the imminent return to fitness Jose Bosingwa, and it is understandable the 26-year-old is taking nothing for granted.
'I don't look at it like a battle. Jose is a fantastic player, he has been injured almost a year and we are waiting for him to be fit again so that he can help the team, that is the most important thing,' Ivanovic said.
'I am here to play wherever the manager says, and for me it is good because I can play in two positions.
'For me last season was a great season, but every season you can do better and I will give my maximum and hope I can give the club more than last season. Every time you win you want to show next year you are better, so we must do that.'
The first test of the new campaign comes on Sunday against Manchester United at Wembley, and while neither side looks to be completely match fit yet, owing to World Cup commitments, Ivanovic is looking forward to the occasion as pre-season comes to an end.
'I feel good, some of us have only just started pre-season which is a very important period. It is the base for a long season, and I feel okay.
'It is always a tough game against Man United, but I think we will be as ready as we can and we need to give our maximum against them. Next season is going to be tough and we will have to be ready for that.'
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