Carlo Ancelotti Sets Sights On Historic Treble After Chelsea's 'Early' Euro Exit Last Season

Carlo Ancelotti led Chelsea to the Double in his first season in English football but now wants to go one better and win the Champions League.

The Chelsea boss believes his squad can defend their Premier League and FA Cup titles and improve on last season’s defeat by Inter Milan in the knock-out round of Europe’s elite club competition.

Ancelotti said: ‘Our aim is to do better than last year in the Champions League. We went out too early. It is not so easy to be competitive in every competition.

‘We have to defend the Premier League title. We want to do our best in all the competitions.’

The 51-year-old taunted Premier League runners up Manchester United with claims Manchester City could be pushing Chelsea for the title next May.

‘I think they will do better in respect to last season,’ he said. ‘They have a lot of fantastic players and could be an important opponent.’

The Italian would not comment on reports linking Chelsea with Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, insisting he does not need another striker.

Ancelotti also rebuffed suggestions of Ashley Cole joining Real Madrid.

‘Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka come back in the next days, and we also have Daniel Sturridge — so I don’t think we need other strikers. I’m happy to have this squad at the moment.

‘Cole will be important for us next season. 100 per cent. We have to maintain the same feeling.’

Chelsea began their pre-season campaign by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 on Saturday, thanks to a left-foot Michael Essien drive after 60 minutes.

It was the 27-year-old’s first appearance since injuring his left knee training with Ghana for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

He said: ‘The knee is good. There is no more pain.’

Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi completed his comeback after a knee operation in May. Centre-half Alex, who is also returning from knee surgery, played an hour.

Chelsea Boost As Ozil's Werder Talks Collapse

Mesut Ozil could join Chelsea or Real Madrid after his club Werder Bremen failed to strike a fresh deal with the player.

The 21-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and talks to extend the deal failed to succeed at the weekend.

Ozil can now leave on a free transfer next summer, prompting Bremen to cash in on one of the stars of the World Cup.

Interested clubs would have to cough up around £22million.

“We had hoped to reach agreement after the World Cup, but we could not find a solution,” said Klaus Allofs, the Bremen sporting director.

Chelsea Youngster Jeffrey Bruma To Sign Loan Deal With Wolfsburg

Chelsea starlet Jeffrey Bruma is reported to be close to going out on loan to Wolfsburg.

The manager of the Bundesliga club, Steve McClaren, was interested in the young defender during his time at Twente, according to The Mirror.

And he is now believed to be viewing the 18-year-old as an important target during the current transfer window.

It is believed that the Blues do not see the versatile defender - who can play at right-back as well as in the centre of defence - as a player who could break into the first-team in the upcoming season, and are consequently willing to let the talented Dutchman go out on loan to the German heavyweights.

Bruma made an appearance for Chelsea in their 1-0 pre-season friendly victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Wigan Athletic Plotting Loan Move For Chelsea Striker Franco Di Santo

Wigan Athletic are reported to be interested in signing Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo on loan.

The tall forward spent last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers, but managed to score only once in 22 appearances in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old is now rumoured to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, and has been linked with moves away from the club.

The Mirror reports that the Latics are interested in taking the former Audax Italiano hitman on loan to the DW Stadium, amidst interest from Bolton Wanderers, Feyenoord and Twente.

If the potential transfer of Di Santo reaches fruition, the striker could be paired alongside fellow Argentine forward Mauro Boselli by Wigan manager Roberto Martinez.

Former Chelsea Striker Ben Sahar To Rejoin Hapoel Tel Aviv

Former Chelsea striker Ben Sahar is set to rejoin his boyhood club Hapoel Tel Aviv.

IMScouting has learned that the deal between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Sahar's current club, Espanyol, will be finalized in the next 48 hours.

Espanyol are demanding €100,000 for a one-year loan, while Hapoel just want to pay his €400,000-per-year salary, but the two sides are close to an agreement.

Maccabi Haifa - the former club of new Chelsea signing Yossi Benayoun, Everton striker Yakubu Ayegbeni and ex-Souhampton, West Ham, Celtic and Manchester City star Eyal Berkovitz – were also interested in Sahar, but the 20-year-old appears to be heading to the Israeli Double winners.

The player was initially reluctant to leave La Liga, but after a talk with Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino, he understood it would be the best move for his career.

"His dream is to play every weekend and we cannot promise that," said Pochettino. "Hapoel can assure him first-team football, whereas here we have many players vying for his position."

"He wants to grow while remaining a member of Espanyol, and this is his opportunity," he continued.

Sahar has failed to settle since leaving Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2006 in a dream move to Chelsea.

After two years and just three appearances for the Blues, Sahar went out on loan to QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Dutch side De Graafschap Doetinchem, before signing for Espanyol for €1 million in 2009.

Sahar made 22 appearancs for the La Liga outfit last season, scoring just the one goal.

Carlo Ancelotti: Joe Cole Left Chelsea Because Of An 'Economic Problem'

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Joe Cole's decision to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of last season was purely down to economics and was nothing personal.

Ancelotti maintains that he enjoyed a positive working relationship with the England midfielder and was more than happy with his performances for the team.

The Italian admits that he would have preferred the player to stay but also asserts that the 28-year-old's exit was nothing to do with him.

"No, because the problem was economic," Ancelotti told reporters.

"It was a problem between the club and Joe Cole, not me. We spoke about this but when the problem is with money, it is not my problem.

"It is difficult to keep a player all the time in one squad.

"I think Joe Cole, like Michael Ballack and Julian Belletti, did a fantastic job. I want to thank them but now is the time to change."

Crowds Boo Ashley Cole At Campbell's Wedding

Love rat Ashley Cole was booed when he turned up at old team-mate Sol Campbell's wedding.

Crowds gathered to watch guests arrive for the marriage between Arsenal and former England defender Sol and girlfriend Fiona Barratt.

Man United's Rio Ferdinand, old Arsenal heroes Martin Keown and David Seaman and celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott all got a cheer.

But when Chelsea's Cole, 29, arrived at the church just a few miles from where estranged wife Cheryl Tweedy, 27, grew up he was greeted by jeers.

One onlooker said: "The crowd was having real fun cheering famous guests. But when Cole arrived he got booed. He definitely heard it."

Sol, 35, wed Fiona, 29, granddaughter of housebuilding tycoon Sir Lawrie Barratt, at St Andrew's Church in Corbridge, Northumberland.

Local Jane Brooke, 32, said: "She looked beautiful."

The couple have been together since 2005.

Mixed Results For Young Blues

There was plenty of Chelsea involvement in the first round of matches of the European Under 19 Championships in northern France.

Gael Kakuta got the hosts off to the perfect start against Holland, opening the scoring with a fine solo goal after 20 minutes of their 4-1 win and going on to play the entire game.

Jacob Mellis was a 77th minute substitute for England in their 3-2 win over Austria, replacing Tottenham's John Bostock in midfield. Former Chelsea Academy player Frank Nouble scored twice to secure the win for the English.

Fabio Borini captained Italy against Portugal and Jacopo Sala also started, but the Blues pair were on the wrong end of a 2-0 result that leaves them plenty of work to do if they want to reach the semi-finals.

Sala was substituted on 54 minutes, Borini on 80.

In that group's other game, Spain beat Croatia 2-1. Matej Delac, who has signed a pre-contract agreement to play for Chelsea, played the entire 90 minutes in goal for the Croats.