Ancelotti: Same Again

Carlo Ancelotti has paid tribute to his side's focus ahead of our final Barclays Premier League game of the season this weekend, and will keep his side unchanged.

The stakes could not be higher as we prepare to entertain Wigan at Stamford Bridge knowing three points will guarantee the title, and the Italian will keep faith with the side that started at Anfield last Sunday.

If the pressure is on, it certainly has not shown at Cobham this week, where it has been very much business as usual, as it was prior to last weekend's win over Liverpool.

'I saw my players focused during the week and they knew very well how important the game was,' Ancelotti said. 'This weekend is the same, to be champions we have to play as we played against Liverpool.

'We have to maintain the same confidence in our play, the same determination because nothing is decided. We have to pay a lot of attention because there are not other games, if you miss this game you do not have the possibility of recovery.

'We are in a very good situation, we wanted to arrive at the end of the season with more points but we can decide our destiny in our home at Stamford Bridge so this is a good thing.

'The team is fit, in good condition and has fantastic motivation for this game. We have to be ready and have to play 90 minutes. We come to play this game and try the best, they have a very good team, they beat us in the last game we played and we have to pay attention.'

With the mention of team fitness came the news that Ricardo Carvalho is expected to rejoin the squad in training next week, though the FA Cup Final may come too soon for him. One man who will definitely miss out is John Mikel Obi who had meniscus surgery this week, but Ancelotti does expect the Nigerian to be ready for the World Cup.

Before then, Ancelotti hopes to have the futures of a number of senior figures sorted, notably Joe Cole who he still expects to remain a Chelsea player.

'I think that Joe Cole will stay here, and I rarely make a mistake,' he began. 'In January I said nobody will come, and nobody came, and I think Joe will stay. We have 10 days to wait because the club will speak with Joe Cole and the other players that are at the end of their contracts after the Cup Final.'

Assessing the season as a whole at this stage is difficult for Ancelotti, though he stands on the precipice of becoming the first man ever to lead us to the Double. Typically modest, he believes it is the work of the players that means it would be fully deserved, and picked out one man in particular whose character typifies the squad.

'This season for me if I have to consider the work of my players I think they worked very well, every one,' he said. 'A lot of players didn't play for five or six months, and when they played they played very well. This means the group works very well during the season and maintains a good motivation. If you want one name, it is [Paulo] Ferreira.'

Ballack Set To Discuss Future

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has confirmed talks will soon take place over his future with the London club, but he has not ruled out moving to another Premier League outfit.

The Germany captain's contract expires at the end of next month and he has yet to find out whether the Blues are prepared to offer him an extension, but he told Germany's WDR radio that his future will soon be resolved.

"After the season, we are definitely going to hold talks with the (Chelsea) decision makers and then we will see where things go from there," he said.

"My primary aim is to stay in the Premier League."

The 33-year-old has been linked with a move back to the Bundesliga with Schalke emerging as a surprise candidate to sign him.

But he says he would "prefer not to comment" on such rumours which "are always around when no decision has been made" about the future of a player who is set to become a free agent in the summer.

Instead, he is concentrating on helping Germany to World Cup glory after a provisional squad of 27 was announced by the national team coach Joachim Low today.

"We, like many other nations, want to win the World Cup," he proclaimed.

"We have qualified with good performances and we will be self-confident.

"We may have had a few dips in form in recent months, but we will prepare ourselves well."

Drogba Is On The Spot For Blues

Frank Lampard will let Didier Drogba be Chelsea's penalty-taker against Wigan on Sunday, with the aim to wreck rival Wayne Rooney's Golden Boot dream.

Ivory Coast star Drogba said: "To finish above Rooney in the scorers' table would be the cherry on the cake.

"Three years ago, I finished above him and we didn't win the league. There was something missing.

"But if there is a penalty to take, I have already agreed with Lampard that I will take it."

Both Drogba and Manchester United star Rooney are locked on 26 goals heading into the final Premiership weekend.

Drogba has been in sensational scoring form for Carlo Ancelotti's men, as they close in on the title.

His killer strike at Old Trafford last month was the turning point of the campaign.

He added: "I think it's my best season here by far. I have been consistent, despite going to the Africa Cup of Nations for a month and a half in the heat of Angola.

"It was hard going from 35C to minus four! You come home and two days later you have to face Hull. It's not easy. Despite this, I've had no bad patch.

"Can Chelsea lose the title? Nothing is done yet. But it would be crazy to let it go now.

"Only six teams have ever done the Double in England. By doing it, we would enter the history of English football."

Joe Cole Will Seek Move Abroad If He Fails To Agree New Chelsea Deal

Chelsea's Joe Cole will seek a move away from the Premier League if he cannot agree a new deal with the club - with Serie A giants AC Milan and Inter both keen on the England midfielder, Goal.com UK can reveal.

The 28-year-old could head of a list of top stars available for free this summer, with his contract set to expire and no apparent progress on an extension.

A host of Chelsea's domestic rivals have been linked with Cole as negotiations have stalled, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and his former club West Ham United.

Yet sources close to the player indicate that he would snub all his English suitors and pursue a move abroad if he can't strike a deal to stay at Stamford Bridge.

"A number of foreign clubs have expressed their interest," said the source. "Everyone knows his style would suit the continental game."

Cole has long been linked with a move to the continent, with Claudio Ranieri attempting to bring him to Valencia after returning to the Mestalla from Stamford Bridge in 2004.

Now Serie A rivals Milan and Inter are understood to be monitoring the situation closely. The Rossoneri will again have to strengthen on a budget this summer, so the midfielder's out-of-contract status makes him an attractive prospect. Despite English players having a reputation for often struggling to adapt to foreign climes, the San Siro club were highly impressed by the contribution of David Beckham in his two loan spells in Europe's fashion capital.

Inter have greater means at their disposal and are equally keen on Cole. Jose Mourinho has lost patience with both Mancini and Ricardo Quaresma, and will attempt to offload the pair in the summer. This will in turn create a vacancy for a creative wide player, and the 53-cap England man's profile fits the bill. It was Inter coach Mourinho who made Cole into a first-team regular in his time at Stamford Bridge, and after a difficult opening to their working relationship, a bond of mutual respect was formed.

If Cole does manage to make Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, his stock would rise further and it would give him an even greater choice of prospective destinations.

Few developments are expected until the end of Chelsea's domestic season on May 15, as the club have stated on a number of occasions recently that they will not be entering into contract discussions before that point.

Didier Drogba Keen To See Bayern Munich Star Franck Ribery Join Him At Chelsea

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has revealed that he would welcome Franck Ribery to Stamford Bridge, should the Blues attempt to sign the Frenchman from Bayern Munich in the summer.

Reports yesterday indicated that perhaps the Blues' interest in Ribery may have cooled due to his personal issues, but Drogba insists that the winger would be a positive signing for the west Londoners should Carlo Ancelotti decide to move for the player.

"I know Franck from my time at Guingamp. If he comes to Chelsea, I will be happy. He is hungry. I like hungry players," Drogba told reporters.

Deco Set For Fluminense Move

Chelsea star Deco could be set for a move to Brazilian outfit Fluminense, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

The 32-year-old midfielder is said to be eager for a switch to Brazil, where he was born, in order to be closer to his sons in Rio de Janeiro. Fluminense are believed to have made the first move to give him his wish, with Flamengo — Deco's first club — and Corinthians also interested.

Deco still has a year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, but with Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti ready to shake up his ageing squad, and with the player himself publicly stating he was ready to leave, the former Barcelona man will be allowed to leave for a cut-price fee.

According to the report, a meeting between Deco and Chelsea officials is planned for after the Blues' final Premier League fixture of the season with Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Deco is due to meet up with Portugal's World Cup squad soon after the following week's FA Cup final against Portsmouth, and both he and Fluminense believed to be keen to iron out any potential deal as soon as possible.

Twice a Champions League winner - with FC Porto and Barcelona - Deco has made 55 appearances for Chelsea, scoring six goals.

Joe Cole Seeking A Move To Tottenham In The Summer

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is keen to reunite with Harry Redknapp and join Champions League bound Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Cole’s current deal with the Blues expires after the season and with contract negotiations at a standstill the England international would like to join his former manager at Spurs next season.

Tottenham clinched fourth place with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday, but Cole was already interested in a move to White Hart Lane, according to The Sun.

Manchester City and Liverpool have also shown interest in the 28-year-old but Cole would join Spurs if they can match the £100,000-a-week salary demands the Englishman has made.

Redknapp managed Cole at West Ham United but if Spurs are steadfast in their refusal to offer the midfielder more than £60,000-a-week they could miss out of the chance to sign him.

Spurs are reportedly interested in City winger Craig Bellamy and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar in an attempt to bolster their squad for Champions League football next season.

Consistency Is The Key

Ray Wilkins admitted he wouldn't have been able to whittle his vote for Player of the Year down to one footballer on Friday night.

The assistant first team coach has been delighted by the team's performances this season and believes the coherence in the side made it nearly impossible to pick one single player for the award.

'The consistency level the players have shown is the all-important aspect. They have all contributed,' explained Wilkins.

'Everybody has done such a great job this year it was very difficult to choose, whether it's a goalkeeper, defender, midfield player or forward player. Look at Frank Lampard, 26 goals from a midfield player in one season is phenomenal.

'We've had such a consistent season and if anybody deserves to win the double, it's these boys.'

Wilkins went on to explain why he'd have found it hard to pick one player: 'I would have two, either Florent or Branislav Ivanovic.

'Saying that had Ashley not been injured he would have had my vote, in my opinion he was one of the best footballers in the world at the time of his injury.

'But Branislav has had a wonderful season; he's been playing out of position, we have asked him to fill in at right-back and he has done a wonderful job.

'Paulo [Ferreira] is a fantastic footballer but they have different qualities. At times we've needed the subtlety of Paulo and then at other times we've needed the force of Ivanovic, it's worked really well.'

Wilkins also had trouble deciding on his Goal of the Season, which was eventually won by Ashley Cole for his strike against Sunderland.

'It was lovely to see a Conor Clifford goal in there,' said Wilkins, 'he has scored some very good goals, including a fantastically important one here in the FA Youth Cup Final, but for me it would have been too hard to choose.'

Another man who once won the prestigious Player of the Year Award was also at Friday night's event in a different capacity.

Carlo Cudicini attended the dinner to help present Peter Bonetti with a special recognition award and it brought memories flooding back for the Italian.

'Since day one of the first season I was here it was something nice to be part of,' reports Cudicini, speaking of the awards dinner.

'In Italy it doesn't exist so it was something new to me and then, after three years, I was lucky enough to win it which is one of my best memories at Chelsea.

'Being awarded Player of the Year by the fans was fantastic. It is something very special, and it is a night that holds very good memories, it's always nice to be part of.'

Drogba Wins The Big Vote

Didier Drogba has been named Chelsea Player of the Year for the first time.

The striker has been rewarded for another outstanding season that has seen him net 33 goals so far by polling the most votes from the fans. He is the 43rd recipient and was presented with the trophy by Carlo Ancelotti.

'Wow!' began his acceptance speech, delivered after he had invited all his team mates to join him on stage.

'Thank you to all the fans from my heart.

'When I came here it wasn't easy for me, I made a lot of mistakes and they always tried to help me. My only desire was to love this club and win a lot of trophies. This is the happiest I have ever been and I want this moment to continue for years and years.'

Florent Malouda has been declared Samsung Chelsea Players' Player of the Year, decided by a vote among his fellow professionals and the staff who work closely with the first team.

In the first award announced at the annual Player of the Year dinner, held in the Great Hall in the West Stand at Stamford Bridge, Ashley Cole's attacking prowess from full-back gave him the Chelsea TV Award for Goal of the Season, also voted for by the supporters.

His goal at home to Sunderland in January when he took John Terry's excellent floated pass and in three touches controlled it, put his marker on his backside and then chipped over the keeper at the Shed End was the pick of the season's best.

'I had been practicing hard in training with Lamps and Didier and normally they went over the bar,' Cole said about the goal. 'They teach me shooting techniques and at the time it was just instinct to hit the ball with the outside of my foot.

'In training the day before I did the same to a player when JT gave me the ball, I'm not going to name him, and funnily enough I said I was going to score in this game. It was a great ball from JT, we have a good understanding and we try to do that a lot, and the guy dived in when probably he shouldn't have done. As I took the touch I did a 'Cruyff' and luckily the keeper went down and I chipped it over him.'

Cole was presented with a trophy by Kerry Dixon; Malouda's was handed over by Dennis Wise.

Malouda said: 'It has been one of my best seasons and I would like to thank my team mates, they are the best jury, but I prefer collective awards so I ask them to please help me win that Double.'

The Adidas Young Player of the Year quite rightly went to the entire Under 18 squad who brought the FA Youth Cup back to Stamford Bridge after a 49-year wait, thanks to their win over Aston Villa two days ago. Climbing on to the stage was a nice moment for midfielder Kaby who missed Tuesday's Youth Cup trophy presentation having been taken to hospital.

Peter Bonetti was handed a special recognition award for his 729 appearances and important place in the club's history. He was the Chelsea Player of the Year in the award's inaugural year in 1967. His 2010 accolade was presented by three of his successors in goal for the Blues, Carlo Cudicini, Petr Cech and Eddie Niedzwiecki.

There was a new award for Chelsea Contribution which went to press accreditation officer Thresa Conneely who has given 33-years of service.