Chelsea Face Stiff Champions League Test As Big Beasts Bare Teeth

Last May, as the sun warmed the roof terrace of Chelsea's training complex at Cobham and the chefs put on a barbecue, the glinting Premier League and FA Cup were passed around the staff as nonchalantly as the relish. Carlo Ancelotti was entitled to feel content with all he surveyed. A convivial end of term celebration crowned a debut year in England that could scarcely have been bettered.

The obvious supposition is that the pressure is on for the Italian to improve this season, to somehow enhance his opening act in the months of intense competition to come. That can only equate to one heavyweight calling: the Champions League. It was the four European Cups on Ancelotti's CV (two as a player and two as a coach with Milan) that leapt off the page so there is no reason to assume that the powers at Stamford Bridge are not expectant on that score.

But Ancelotti is a smart and experienced enough football man to know that however much the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, might hunger for a European coronation, however keenly Chelsea's fans might trade another domestic prize for the big one, and however desperate John Terry and his cohorts are to put an end to the gallingly close shaves, the maximum he can guarantee them is his best effort. No more. The rest is down to the Champions League gods. And they clearly do not believe anybody has a divine right to their blessing.

Just look at where a couple of past winners with glowing European pedigree kicked off their continental adventures this season: Liverpool travelled to Skopje to take on Rabotnicki in the Europa Cup qualifiers. Juventus dropped into Dublin to play Shamrock Rovers. What they wouldn't do even to have a shot at aiming for a grand occasion with the Champions League music ringing in their ears at Wembley next summer.

Every season there are a handful of super-strong favourites, yet it is anyone's guess which of them will prevail. Over the past decade, some 14 different teams have reached the final. There have been eight different winners. Only Milan and Barcelona have hoisted the trophy more than once.

Ancelotti is far too shrewd to deliberately or overtly focus his resources during this campaign on the Champions League. The risk of disappointment in a notoriously fickle competition is too great. The field is too strong. The margin of error is too slim.
Just ask Real Madrid about expecting certainties from this competition. They outspent the national debt of several countries this time last year on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Karim Benzema in a bid to give themselves the best chance possible of a fairytale 10th European Cup, won at their home stadium, the Bernabéu. They duly bombed out in the round of 16 for the fifth season running. Now they have installed José Mourinho – the hottest plotter around in terms of this particular tournament – to see if his magic wand will do the trick.

The cult of the coach has perhaps never held quite so much store in Europe's elite tournament. Mourinho made sure of that last season, to the extent that some of the outstanding contributions of his players were a little overshadowed come the curtain call against Louis van Gaal's Bayern Munich in Madrid. Despite the expectation that Mourinho alone can conjure in a flash a ruthless team from the ornate ingredients at his disposal, Real's recent history of blighted hopes in this tournament really should have taught them not to expect a guaranteed miracle. Not that they will be able to help themselves. They will be powerless to resist catapulting their thinking towards another date with the trophy they feel like they part-own.

But let's be honest, no matter the club, the coach, the footballing talent, no one with any sense can go into a season with all their eggs in the Champions League basket.

Mourinho knows the competition is as strong as ever. It took him three years at San Siro, as well as a generously supportive board, to weld together a team capable of taking on everything Europe could throw at them. Having said that, as Van Gaal demonstrated by guiding Bayern to an impressive renaissance, and Pep Guardiola showed the previous year by launching Barcelona into the history books, alchemy can happen quickly with the right blend of quality, unity, inspiration and fortune.

What is changing is the ability of the top teams to challenge on all fronts. Last season Internazionale, Bayern and Chelsea mounted an assault on the Champions League while winning the double at home. Barcelona came close alongside a successful defence of La Liga. The most powerful clubs are setting a heck of a standard, by showing it can be done to go hell for leather on both the domestic and European scenes. Once upon a time, the treble was such a mythical achievement you would be lucky to witness it once in a generation. We have just seen it done two years running.

Anyone thinking about loading extra demands on Ancelotti would do well to swallow a dose of perspective. Chelsea are hardly the only club who hanker after the Champions League like the holiest of grails. It is certainly no lower on the agenda at Barcelona and Real Madrid, at Manchester United, Bayern Munich,Milan and, naturally, at the club where it is now on show – in the trophy room of the holders Inter.

The fact that it is too competitive a field to pick a favourite is part of what gives the Champions League its allure. Mourinho was not wrong when he announced that it was a higher level than the World Cup before Inter's triumph. The only thing we can be sure of from this edition is that a handful of excellent teams, marshalled by first-rate managers, will end up disappointed.

Chelsea Target Asmir Begovic As Back-Up To Injured Petr Cech

Chelsea have expressed an interest in the Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as the manager, Carlo Ancelotti, considers his options behind his injured No1 Petr Cech.

Henrique Hilário is Ancelotti's current first-choice back-up ahead of Ross Turnbull and the Portuguese was given the starting nod at Wembley in the Community Shield against Manchester United.

However, both goalkeepers have made errors during the pre-season and have looked shaky at times, forcing Ancelotti to consider whether a new signing might offer more stability.

Begovic, 23, has the added advantage of qualifying as a home-grown player because, despite his Bosnian nationality, he moved to Portsmouth on a youth contract in 2003. That means that although he had loans spells at Macclesfield Town, Bournemouth and Yeovil Town before he turned 21, he has spent the required three years before that birthday training at the academies of English clubs.

Chelsea have only five home-grown players at present – John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Michael Mancienne and Turnbull – meaning that, with the Premier League's new regulations stipulating that clubs must name eight such players in a senior squad of no more than 25, Ancelotti stands to play the first half of the season with only 22 senior players.

With Ramires, Benfica's Brazil midfielder, set to move to Stamford Bridge to replace Deco, who has signed for Fluminense, Ancelotti has his full compliment of 17 senior overseas players.

Were he to sign Begovic, he would have the option to loan out Hilário to free up a space for another overseas signing. Chelsea has been linked with a move for the Benfica defender David Luiz.

Cech tore a calf muscle last month and he was ruled out of the pre-season friendlies against Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburg. His total pre-season playing minutes amount to 30 in the opening fixture against Crystal Palace. Ancelotti says that Cech will be fit to face West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Begovic cost £3.25m when he moved from Portsmouth to Stoke in last winter's transfer window, a reflection of his ability and potential, but he was unable to dislodge Thomas Sorensen as the manager Tony Pulis's first choice. He made four appearances at the end of the season, after Sorensen injured his shoulder against Chelsea.

Bologna Set To Seal Loan Deal For Chelsea Starlet Nemanja Matic

Serie A side Bologna are hopeful of completing the transfer of young midfielder Nemanja Matic from Premier League giants Chelsea on a one-year loan deal in the coming days, if a report in Corriere dello Sport is to be believed.

The Felsinei are keen to strengthen their team this summer after finishing only one place above the Serie A relegation zone last season. Head coach Franco Colomba supposedly sees Matic as the perfect addition to his squad.

The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Blues last summer, but made only three substitute appearances last season. Matic has already won two caps for the senior Serbian national side, despite his youthful age, but missed out on selection for the 2010 World Cup squad.

The report claims that Bologna are close to reaching an agreement with Chelsea and the transfer could be a done deal sooner rather than later.

Didier Drogba: Blues Need To Find Match Fitness Quickly

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has admitted that the Blues looked a little flat during their Communtiy Shield defeat to Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.

The Ivorian insists however that the World Cup has affected some players, with late returns to the club meaning that pre-season training has been disrupted.

"We had a difficult pre-season, a lot of players were coming back from holidays," Drogba told Sky Sports News.

"I came back only 10 days ago. I think we have a lot of players like this coming back very late."

That limited pre-season training has made it hard for players to be at their sharpest, but Drogba admits that time is running out for the squad to find full fitness.

He added: "It's difficult to be fit after only days so we'll need more time but the competition is starting next week so we have to find a solution."

Carlo Ancelotti Says Time, Not Transfers, Will Cure Chelsea's Poor Form

Carlo Ancelotti insists there will be no panic buys at Chelsea following their dismal build-up to the new season which culminated in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.

The defeat at Wembley marked Chelsea's fourth consecutive defeat as they prepare for their defence of the Premier League title with just one new senior player added to their books this summer.

Aside from Ramires, who is expected to join the London club imminently, Ancelotti insists he is happy with the resources at his disposal and that recent results reflect only the lack of time he has had to work with his World Cup players since they returned to training.

Furthermore, the Italian laughed off the possibility of making further signings as a response to his side's current form.

"Fortunately, it's pre-season," he said. "I think that there is time to come back to win. It was not a good pre-season for results. We lost four games but I think we did our best.

"We need for the players who came back the on July 26 to have more time to train."

Ancelotti does not believe his World Cup players - such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba - will be fully match fit for another fortnight.

For that reason, he is grateful for this week's international fixtures, which will give many of his players additional game time.

"The England players are very close to being fit," he said. "It's good for them to play an international game. They could play 70 minutes without a problem."

Despite appearing unconcerned about recent displays, Ancelotti accepts his players need to rediscover their form fast if they are not to be playing catch-up at the start of the season.

"I'm not worried but I think that we have to improve," he said. "We have to have more time in possession."

Ancelotti felt his side played "too slowly" yesterday and allowed United too much time on the ball.

Paul Scholes did most of the damage with a midfield masterclass which Ancelotti was able to appreciate but felt was helped by his own side's lack of match sharpness.

"Scholes is a fantastic player; he played a very good game," he said. "Maybe we gave him more possibility to play well because we didn't put strong pressure on him.

"When you are not fit 100 per cent, it's difficult to put strong pressure on during the game. But he showed fantastic touch, fantastic switch of play. I agree that he was the man of the match."

Carlo Ancelotti Admits Chelsea Were ‘Too Slow’ In Community Shield Defeat To Manchester United

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists Sunday’s Community Shield match against Manchester United was a good workout - despite losing 3-1.

Luis Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez gave the Red Devils a 2-0 lead before Dimitar Berbatov wrapped up the win in style following Salomon Kalou’s late consolation.

However, despite Ancelotti's concerns that his side were ‘too slow’ against United, he insists his Premier League holders gained a lot of good preparation ahead of the new season from the Wembley encounter.

Ancelotti told Sky Sports: “We played too slow in the first-half. We didn’t have chances, our play was slow and Manchester [United] went up at the end of the first-half.

"It was difficult, it wasn’t our best day but this can happen at the start of the season. Our players played 90 minutes and this is a good thing for us ahead of the start of the Premier League.”

A number of Chelsea’s players were given an extended break after World Cup 2010 and have only recently returned to full-time training with the Blues.

“It’s impossible to ask our players, after 10 days of pre-season, to be quick and fit," he added.

"We’ve got a lot of players who came back on July 26 and to improve their conditions it’s important to play 90 minutes and I think this game will be a positive.”

With international fixtures coming up in midweek, Ancelotti believes the games could help Chelsea’s players continue to build up their fitness before the Premier League curtain-raiser next weekend.

“I think playing could be a good thing to improve their condition. I don’t worry about this,” he added.

Ashley Cole Snubs Fabio Capello Handshake After Community Shield

Ashley Cole has risked the ire of England fans again by snubbing the offer of a handshake from manager Fabio Capello after Chelsea's defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.

The defending Premier League champions and FA Cup winners were beaten 3-1 by their rivals at Wembley - but the main talking point afterwards was the apparent bad blood between Capello and Cole during the presentation ceremony afterwards.

Cole ascended the steps of the national stadium to collect his medal but walked straight past Capello without shaking the Italian's hand.

The incident, which was captured on camera, left the England boss red-faced - especially since he was left high and dry with his arm outstretched.

Afterwards, Cole claimed his snub was nothing personal and that he had merely tripped on the top step and was concentrating on regaining his footing and forgot to greet his coach.

However, other observers may interpret the incident differently - either as a show of dissent towards the manager who led England through their worst World Cup finals campaign for decades, or, worse, as another example of the sort of petulance Cole has been accused of before.

Cole has been linked with a transfer away from Chelsea to Real Madrid this summer - especially after reports emerged of his phone message rant about England, saying he 'hates the country and all the people in it'.

There was no such awkward moment between England striker Wayne Rooney and Capello as the Manchester United striker came up to collect his medal and the trophy.

Despite flopping in spectacular fashion in South Africa, Rooney was greeted with a broad smile and a warm handshake as he claimed the first silverware of the season for his side.

Sturridge Feeling Stronger

Daniel Sturridge was delighted to step up his return to full fitness with a run out in the Community Shield.

The Chelsea striker has seen his pre-season preparations disrupted by a niggling ankle problem.

The injury kept him sidelined for the Blues' recent five-day trip to Germany, preventing him from getting vital minutes under his belt.

He was, however, able to step off the bench in Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday and insists he is raring to go ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

"It is good to get some fitness from the game, and we'll come back in the week and try and put things right," the England U21 international told the Blues' official website.

"The ankle is improving, I still have pain and I only trained twice last week. I wasn't sure if I would be able to go through the pain barrier but my leg is getting stronger every day and in the next few days hopefully I will be able to play without pain."

Sturridge, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City last summer, is also hoping to make more of an impression at Chelsea this season.

He admits he struggled to feet his feet upon arriving in the capital, but feels he is now ready to show his true colours.

The 20-year-old added: "I've been working very hard, as hard as I can and need to to go forward and break into the team to help retain the title and FA Cup.

"I've been trying to impress the manager. In football you need to be patient and hopefully this year my time will come.

"It was a difficult six months when I first joined the club, when I didn't have my family and was living alone, but this season I feel a lot more comfortable, part of the lads and as though I am at home a lot more.

"Players have put an arm around me and I have a good bond, with the younger players especially where we have a bit of banter."

Reserves Beat United In Cobham Friendly

The first team may have come out second best against Manchester United on Sunday but the reserves were 4-1 victors over United's second string at Cobham earlier in the day.

Manager Steve Holland was delighted with his side's application after defeats to Woking and Wycombe, and felt having more experience in the side made a huge difference, even if United also had their fair share of first team experience in their side, with an 11 that included Gary Neville, Danny Welbeck, Rodrigo Possebon and Ritchie de Laet.

'The first team have had a difficult pre-season and that has impacted on reserves and youth, so we still had a younger side out than Manchester United with four or five that will still play in this year's youth team, but having somebody like Michael Mancienne at the back makes such a difference to the team,' explained Holland afterwards.

It was United who took the lead early on though through Welbeck, but the Blues equalized through Borini after a smart pass from Josh McEachran, and quickly took the lead before half-time when the Italian forward finished off a swift move after United had lost possession inside their own half.

In the second half Chelsea added two further late goals, the third from McEachran and the fourth probably the pick of the bunch following a well worked move, with right-back Billy Clifford getting forward in trademark fashion to finish high into the roof of the net.

The reserves have one more friendly game before the start of their competitive season, against Blackburn Rovers at Cobham on Wednesday, August 18. It will be played behind closed doors.