Ancelotti: 'I Want To Manage Chelsea For 25 years'

Carlo Ancelotti has set his sights on being Chelsea boss for the next 25 years - before moving into international football, perhaps with England!

The Stamford Bridge chief wants to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and build a destiny in west London.

He told talkSPORT: "My desire is to be here for 25 years. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I hope to stay for a long time."

The former AC Milan coach has also revealed he would like to take charge of an international team when he leaves Chelsea.

"I would like to manage a national team," he added. "It could be England, it could be Italy. But, of course, I would like to be coach of the Italian team because I am Italian."

Having won the Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season at Chelsea, Ancelotti is now focused on claiming more silverware, with the Champions League top of his wish list.

He was part of the great AC Milan side that won the European Cup in 1989 and 1990 and would love to repeat that achievement as a manager.

He insisted: "When I came to Chelsea our aim was to be involved in all the competitions. The Champions League is not more important than the Premier League – they are at the same level and we maintain that.

"They are two very important competitions but it’s natural after wining the Premier League last season to think more about the Champions League.

"The final this season is in London at Wembley and that's a good motivation. All the London teams will want to win the Champions League for this reason."

Ajax Admit Chelsea Target Could Leave Club In January

Ajax admit they will be powerless to stop Gregory van der Wiel leaving in January if a 'sensible' bid came in.

talkSPORT revealed earlier this summer the Dutch full-back was being tracked by Chelsea but they were desperate to keep hold of him in the transfer window.

Manager Martin Jol has a lack of funds at his disposal and has been told player departures are a main way in which he can improve his situation at the Amsterdam Arena.

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be monitoring van der Wiel this season and officials at Ajax claim they are aware of interest from another Premier League club.

And now Ajax insiders are bracing themselves for a bid in January - with a bid for the 22-year-old between £12-£15m likely to make them listen.

A source close to the club has confirmed that two Premier League teams have requested 'representative passes' to watch Ajax matches this season, with van der Wiel likely to be the main attraction.

Luis Suarez, the free-scoring Ajax striker, remains settled in Holland for now but the future of Dutchman van der Wiel is not as certain.

Carlo Ancelotti Tuning Into Euro Glory

Premier league big guns Chelsea and Manchester United have both targeted supremacy in Europe to prove they are top dog.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already suggested the Champions League is highest on his trophy hit-list this season.

“From my perspective, the history of this club makes the European Cup a big attraction. For me anyway, that must be a priority,” he said in August.

Now Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has also set his heart on the European Cup – and has promised his players the party of all parties if they can win it this season. Ancelotti won the Premier League and FA Cup Double in a sparkling first season at Stamford Bridge, and has won the European Cup twice as a manager with AC Milan, and twice as a player.

But if Chelsea do have a victory party next May at Wembley, the Italian promised music-lovers one thing: tone-deaf wing-back Yuri Zhirkov will not be allowed near the microphone.

Ancelotti said: “I want the Champions League. And I’ll make a promise: if we win, there’ll be a party. And Zhirkov won’t sing.” Tradition has it at Chelsea that new players have to stand on a chair and sing to the rest of the squad as their initiation to the club.

But Russian Zhirkov’s caterwauling was so awful when he did his party piece last season that he has been banned from ever joining in any sing-songs again. Ancelotti explained in his autobiography: “Zhirkov is a midfielder with a host of talents and just one shortcoming: he can’t sing.

“If you want to join this team it’s not enough to sign a contract. There’s another hurdle, and it’s the toughest, where pity isn’t a word, where mercy isn’t shown.

“A player has to make it through karaoke night – a sacred ritual. It was in Los Angeles on our summer tour. The team had been ribbing him for days.

“He stood on a stool and began. I’ve never heard anything that bad. It was a disaster, he didn’t hit one note. Pieces of bread were flying within seconds, followed by pieces of whole fruit. He went on singing like a drowning cat, like a stuck pig, for two solid minutes.

“The entire roster of players refused to take pity on him, refused to interrupt that bloodcurdling cacophony. Petr Cech wanted to put on his helmet to protect his ears. Zhirkov still hasn’t fully recovered from the trauma.”

Zhirkov Looking To Force His Way Into Ancelotti's Plans

Russia international Yuri Zhirkov says he will consider his options in January if he has not managed to secure a place in the Chelsea side.

Zhirkov joined the club for a fee of £18 million 12 months ago but a succession of injury problems restricted him to only ten league starts last season, and he is yet to feature for the club in a competitive fixture this term.

Though he is certain that Carlo Ancelotti will give him a chance to impress, Zhirkov knows that the left side of the Chelsea team is particularly strong at present and will look at his situation again in four months.

"I'll certainly get a chance in the next few months and I'll try to use it completely," Zhirkov said. "Then, in the winter, everything will probably depend on whether I got this chance and how I used it.

"We are currently in brilliant form and getting past Malouda and Cole is problematic. Everyone understands about the competition: once you are on the bench you can be there for a long time. But I will definitely get a chance.

"The thoughts when you are watching your team play are always the same: you support, worry and your soul wants to be on the pitch to help."

Champions League Squad Announced

The squad list for the group stage of this season's Champions League has been announced.

Clubs are allowed to submit an A List and a B List, both equally eligible for selection for games. Regulations mean the A List consists of the majority of the first team squad while young players who have been at Chelsea for a period of time make up List B.

The squad lists are:

A List

Petr Cech
Branislav Ivanovic
Ashley Cole
Michael Essien
Ramires
Frank Lampard
Yossi Benayoun
Didier Drogba
John Mikel Obi
Florent Malouda
José Bosingwa
Yury Zhirkov
Paulo Ferreira
Salomon Kalou
Ross Turnbull
Daniel Sturridge
John Terry
Alex
Nicolas Anelka
Henrique Hilario

B List

Patrick van Aanholt
Jeffrey Bruma
Gael Kakuta
Fabio Borini
Josh McEachran

No club may have more than 25 players on List A during the season. Eight places on List A are reserved for 'locally trained players'.

A 'locally trained player' is either a 'club-trained player' or an 'association-trained player' and no club may have more than four 'association-trained players' listed among the eight.

A 'club-trained player' is a player who, between the age of 15 and 21, and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with his current club for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or of 36 months.

In the case of Chelsea, an 'association-trained player' is a player who, between the age of 15 and 21 and irrespective of his nationality and age, has been registered with another club affiliated to the FA for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or of 36 months.

These regulations mean Chelsea's A List will contain 20 players for this season's group stage.

A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after 1 January 1989 and has been eligible to play for Chelsea for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday.

Following the submission of these lists, a club may register up to three new eligible players for the remaining matches, such registration completed by February 1.

Cech Fancies Champions League Chances

Petr Cech feels his Chelsea side should make comfortable progress from their group in the UEFA Champions League.

Europe's premier club competition gets underway in September, with the Blues drawn against Marseille, Spartak Moscow and MSK Zilina in Group F.

And Cech feels his team have nothing to fear against their group opponents as the goalkeeper looks to help his side make a safe passage into the knock-out phase.

Cech said: "Matches against Zilina will certainly have a special atmosphere. For them it will be the first Champions League match in their history and will be interesting.

"Then we have Marseille, who are a traditional participant in the European cups, with a number of achievements too. And then there is Spartak Moscow.

"I think all the teams are playable, we don't have to do any crazy travels so we may be satisfied."

The Blues' first test in the tournament is away to Zilina, with a trip to Slovakia awaiting a week on Wednesday against the minnows.

But Cech rejected suggestions Carlo Ancelotti's team would underestimate their opponents: "Not at all. Zilina had to go through qualification and the fact they have made it into the group stages shows their quality.

"Underestimating any team in the Champions League can only damage you."

Chelsea will be buoyed by their early season form going into the clash, having won all three of their Premier League encounters to see them head the table.

The Londoners have plundered 14 goals and have yet to concede, a run of form which Cech admits has caught even him by surprise.

He added: "We could expect to pick up nine points with the relatively easy draw, yes.

"But the fact we scored 14 goals and kept a clean sheet in each game was hardly expected by anyone."

Cech enjoyed a record-breaking run of clean sheets during his side's title-winning season of 2005, where he went over 1000 minutes without conceding a goal.

The 28-year-old feels talk of emulating that run is premature, however, adding: "I think it is too early for that. Only if the series becomes longer then it will be worth discussing it.

"At the moment I am most satisfied with our winning streak and with the fact we have been doing well as a team."

Malouda Scored On A Mixed Night

Florent Malouda netted for France as they got their European Championship qualifying campaign up and running on Tuesday night.

The Chelsea man, who captained his country on Friday night, did not wear the armband no Tuesday as they travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he did score the crucial second goal with 12 minutes to go as his side earned their first points in qualifying, sweeping home after a rapid counter-attack, two minutes before being substituted with the game safe.

Ashley Cole excelled as England won 3-1 in Switzerland, the left-back playing the full 90 minutes and looking dangerous on the attack and solid in defence, laying on substitute Darren Bent's decisive third England goal with an incisive through ball, which the Sunderland forward smashed home to follow up strikes from Wayne Rooney and Adam Johnson.

Yury Zhirkov picked up a yellow card as Russia were beaten on home soil by Slovakia, former Chelsea man Miroslav Stoch scoring the only goal of the game at the Lokomotiv Stadion in Moscow, a venus Chelsea tasted in a friendly against Lokomotiv in August 2008. Zhirkov went on to play the full 90 minutes but could not help his side record a point.

Petr Cech, who sat out the World Cup with Czech Republic, was beaten by a header as Lithuania won in Prague by a solitary goal, the Chelsea man having an otherwise quiet night between the sticks.

Yossi Benayoun, captain of Israel, helped his side contain a spirited Georgia side in Tbilisi as they claimed their fourth point from two games, the Chelsea man missing a late chance to snatch the game's only goal. Former Blue Ben Sahar also played for Israel.

At Under 21 level, Daniel Sturridge played 78 minutes for England as they recorded a 3-0 win over Lithuania at Colchester,goals coming courtesy of Danny Welbeck (2) and Marc Albrighton, which guarantees Stuart Pearce's side a play-off place in European Championship qualifying. On loan Chelsea men Michael Mancienne (captain) and Ryan Bertrand both played the full 90 minutes, while Jack Cork, with Burnley, replaced Sturridge with 12 minutes remaining.

Sturridge came close with an early opportunity before seeing another goal ruled out for offside.

Conor Clifford played 79 minutes in Ireland's 1-0 defeat to Turkey, while Fabio Borini was an unused sub for Italy as they secured their place in the play-offs via a 1-0 win over Wales.

Slobodan Rajkovic, on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, played the full game as captain for Serbia Under 21s in their 3-1 win away at Cyprus, and was booked with 16 minutes to go. Despite their victory they, like Ireland, do not qualify for the play-offs, unlike Italy after they beat Wales.

Former Chelsea Star Brian Laudrup Determined To Win Cancer Battle

Former Chelsea star Brian Laudrup has vowed to win his battle against cancer after he began treatment.

Laudrup, 41, revealed the shock news he had been diagnosed with a mild form of lymphoma on Tuesday. The attacker endured a disappointing seven game spell at Chelsea in the 1998-99 season after grabbing 33 goals in 116 appearances for Rangers.

In a statement given to TV3, the 82-times capped Denmark international declared he had been given a "very optimistic" report from doctors.

He said: "I am obviously shocked by the diagnosis, but also know that there is now a tough battle ahead of me - a battle I will win.

"Fortunately, I have had very optimistic reports from doctors to support me."

The former Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and Ajax star added: "I now want to use my energy to get over the shock and take time with my family and those closest to me, so together we can move forward after this diagnosis."

Carlo Ancelotti: Frank Lampard & John Terry Could Be Fit In Time For West Ham United Clash

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Frank Lampard and John Terry could return in time to play a part in the London derby against West Ham United on Saturday.

The defender is currently out with a hamstring injury while the midfielder had to go under the knife to correct a hernia problem, as the pair were both unavailable to be called up to play for England in the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Now the Italian boss has conceded that Terry is likely to make a return at Upton Park, while Lampard is expected to undergo a late fitness test to see if he can play any part in the game against his former club.

"Lampard had surgery on Tuesday and I think that he will start to train this week," Ancelotti told reporters.

"I don't know when but we will see how he trains and we will take a decision for the game against West Ham.

"Terry didn't have surgery but he used the last week to improve his hamstring.

"He will start to train with the squad this week, maybe Tuesday, and I think he will be able to play against West Ham."

Robinho 'Was Subject Of Chelsea Transfer Bid On Deadline Day'

Manchester City rejected an audacious offer from Chelsea to take Robinho on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day, according to reports.

The offer came just a few hours before the Brazilian forward sealed a permanent transfer to AC Milan, having already turned down the chance to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

The speculation suggests Chelsea's cheeky bid would involve City continuing to subsidize Robinho's rumoured £160,000-a-week wages while also agreeing a cut-price fee if the Blues wanted to make the transfer permanent next summer.

A "Chelsea source" suggested an inquiry was made by the club, who were pipped to Robinho's signature by City on transfer deadline day two years ago, but it was rejected before AC Milan's final bid was confirmed and the switch was completed.

Since making his move to Serie A with Milan, Robinho has spoken out against former City manager Mark Hughes and existing boss Roberto Mancini.

Despite signing him for a British record £32.5million in 2008, Robinho claimed Hughes "never understood" him and Mancini "never had confidence" in him.

"I’m a special player and I need to be happy when I play. It was so at Real Madrid, but never at City," he continued.

"The start was good, but England is a difficult country and I had problems adapting."

Athletic Bilbao Fear Chelsea Will Offer Starlet Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta

Athletic Bilbao is bracing themselves from an offer to arrive for Chelsea target Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, according to Tutto Mercato Web.

De Galarretsa, 17, is understood to be the jewel in the Basque side's youth set-up and made his first team debut in a friendly against Lemona this summer.

Watching scouts have been impressed with the midfielder's technique and vision, with bids expected to be lodged in the near future.

The Premier League club is not expected to get a free range at his signature as Barcelona are also eager to snap the player up.

Bertrand: Loan Experience A Big Boost

England Under-21 defender Ryan Bertrand is determined not to stand still this season as he looks to eventually make an impression at Chelsea.

The 18-year-old left-back has been loaned out to npower Championship promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest to gain more first-team experience, having also had successful spells at Norwich and Reading.

With the likes of Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere - who could be recalled to the side by manager Stuart Pearce for the crucial 2011 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania in Colchester - benefiting by experiences away from their parent club, Bertrand is keen to continue his progression.

"It all depends what your position is at a club, and who else is in that role, but going out on loan is a fantastic thing to do," he said.

"You go out and play games instead of sitting still. It is important to develop. Going out on loan has benefited me."

Bertrand feels seeing the likes of Gibbs and Wilshere following in the footsteps of James Milner and Adam Johnson into the senior set-up can only work as an inspiration for all of the Young Lions squad.

"It is massively important," the Chelsea defender said.

"You see the boys who have gone up and done well, then managed to stay in the England team, it has benefited them really well.

"Probably more so now since I have been an England player I have noticed more of togetherness throughout the whole system - we all feel as one in terms of getting players up into the first team.

"It is all looking positive and it is important we do the best we can."

Part of that continuity has been because of Pearce's close involvement at the heart of Fabio Capello's coaching team.

The former Manchester City boss said: "In the players' mind, they feel the pathway from the youths into the Under-21s and then the seniors is probably a bit shorter than it has been in years gone by.

"They know my connection with the seniors, that I speak regularly with Fabio and that I am with both squads on a normal get together.

"We have developed more of a club feel if you like, rather than an international feel."

As part of the build-up to the game, which England must win to stand any chance of making it into the play-offs as one of the four best placed runners-up, Pearce took the squad to Colchester's Merville Barracks, home of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, who are soon to be deployed to Afghanistan on a six-month operation, and got the chance to try out weapons inside the battle simulator.

It was a humbling experience, and one from which the England coach hopes the squad can learn a great deal.

"We wanted to show our support to the Forces and I think they were pleased to see us," said the former England defender, who was nicknamed 'Psycho' during his playing days.

"Speaking to some of the soldiers, with their stories, showed how difficult their job is and how fortunate we are to do the job we do."

Carlo Ancelotti 'Not Interested' In The Private Lives Of His Players

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has criticized the English media for being too intrusive into players’ private lives and insists he’s not interested in what his players get up to off the field.

“I’m not interested in private life of my players,” he told BBC London 94.9. “It’s not involved in our job. I think private life has to be private life.”

In the past week England internationals Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney have both had private matters reported across the media, and Chelsea captain John Terry was also the subject of revelations earlier this year, but Ancelotti praised his captain for remaining professional throughout that time.

“John Terry was able to keep his private problem outside of the training ground, and for that reason he remained captain of Chelsea.”

But the Italian did reveal there were things that he did like about the English way of life.

"The media are too intrusive but that is the culture of this country,” he added. “This is not good for my culture. But there are good things here, there is a fantastic atmosphere around football, there is no violence and people come to watch games to enjoy [themselves], which is totally different from Italy.”

And Ancelotti reserved special praise for former enemy Jose Mourinho, the pair spent two years on opposite sides of Milan, but it appears a love of Chelsea has forged a friendship.

In an interview with BBC London 94.9 Ancelotti revealed how the two men had put their past rivalries behind them.

“He was very kind when I won the Premier League,” he said. “He sent me a message and our relationship is different [to the one in Milan], it is a good relationship.”

“We met in Geneva last week,” Ancelotti continued. “We had a good time together, now he is my friend.”

Ancelotti: The Night Capello Saw A Ghost

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Fabio Capello was once spooked by a ‘ghost’ at large around AC Milan’s training ground.

As if Capello was not already haunted by enough spectres, like Wayne Rooney’s nocturnal agenda, Chelsea’s Double-winning manager has now lifted the lid on an era when Don Fabio was a ghostbuster distracted by other things going bump in the night.

In a passage from his hilarious memoirs, published yesterday in English, Ancelotti recalls how Capello - battling to restore his reputation after England’s World Cup flop - was once troubled by the supernatural. The coach’s room at Milanello, the Rossonieri’s space-age training facility, has its own sense of history, and Ancelotti revealed: “The first time I walked into that room, I had a distinct impression. I could see an array of presences. I was sleeping in the bed that had belonged to Nereo Rocco, Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.

“In the old days, Capello - under the influence, I believe, of the director of the sports centre, Antore Peloso - used to claim that there was a ghost, wandering freely down the hallway, especially after sunset.

“I never understood which was crazier, Don Fabio or that ghost, who had decided to pick on him of all people. It really got to be a problem.

“I can still see Capello, shoulders thrown back, chest swelling with righteous indignation: ‘Be gone, go **** yourself, evil spirit. This is not a team of dead men’.”

To prove his point, Capello went on to win four Serie A titles and the Champions League as Milan coach, and Ancelotti supplemented that ghostly anecdote about his predecessor at the San Siro with a show of support for his compatriot yesterday.

The England coach has endured a torrid backlash since the Three Lions were humiliated in South Africa, and Ancelotti fears Capello has fallen victim to an all-too-familiar syndrome: a hero in victory, a chump in defeat.

Promoting his autobiography at Stamford Bridge, he said: “I was surprised because before the World Cup Capello was a god, and all of a sudden he was not good enough to manage the national team.

“We have a phrase in Italy, which I don’t want to translate, that when you win you are a good guy, and if you lose, you are a bad guy, or a testa di cazzo (not a term of endearment) as we say.

“But I do not agree with this perception - for me, Capello has been a fantastic coach and he will show this again in the future. Did the players let him down? I don’t know - but there was a lot of expectation around the England team in South Africa.

“I think they had a problem physically. The most important player was Rooney, but he was not 100 per cent fit.”

Ah, yes - Wayne Rooney. The latest member of Capello’s devalued galacticos to indulge in dangerous liaisons with the slapperati.

Ancelotti proved himself to be an outstanding manager in a pastoral sense, as well as a master tactician, at the Bridge last season when he steered John Terry and Ashley Cole through turbulent times in their private lives.

He said: “I’m not interested if a player goes to sleep at eight o’clock or 12 o’clock - I’m only interested in them doing their best in training or on the pitch.”

And what about who they go to bed with at eight or 12? “I’m not a policeman - I don’t get involved in the private life of players and it’s difficult to judge them because I don’t want other people to judge my private life.”

On the home front, Ancelotti has been told by Chelsea oligarch Roman Abramovich to concentrate on winning the Champions League this season, a prize the Blues were denied by their former messiah Jose Mourinho six months ago.

Mourinho and Ancelotti were once bitter rivals, but the pair hatched a ceasefire in the bowels of the San Siro and the Blues boss said: “There are days when it feels like I am living a dream, even if getting knocked out of the Champions League against Inter is a regret that will always be with me.

“Against Inter, not against Mourinho. In Italy, we said plenty of harsh things to one another, we didn’t particularly like each other, but ever since I’ve been in England my view has changed.

“He made history at the club where I work, his archive of training has been useful to me more than once, and so he deserves total and rapt attention.

“We called a truce before the first leg of our Champions League match. We met in a corridor at the San Siro and we made a pact:’No more bickering, no more controversy.’

“When I won the Premier League, he wrote me a text message: ‘Champagne.’ When he won the Scudetto in Italy, I sent him a message back: ‘Champagne, but not too much.’ I don’t think Jose and I will ever be friends, but now we have a real and reciprocal respect.”

Henry Winter: Chelsea In Danger Of Becoming A Model Club Under Carlo Ancelotti

It was just an aside by Carlo Ancelotti, a remark lobbed into a discussion about the stresses of international management compared to club strains.

Chelsea’s personable manager argued that he might change “if in the future I train the [Italian] national team’’. Not for a while. Please. The Azzurri can wait.

The Blues are going places under Ancelotti, preferably Wembley on May 28 for the Champions League final. Through his engaging character, and shrewd tinkering of the team, Ancelotti has made Chelsea a delight to watch.

They are winning in style. And more cost-effectively. Chelsea has knocked more than £400,000 a week off their wage bill with the summer’s departures of Michael Ballack, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Joe Cole.

While revelling in the first team’s success, the club are also excited about the progress of some of their youngsters, particularly defender Nat Chalobah.

Only 15, Chalobah is captain of England’s Under-17s and made his debut for Chelsea reserves last week, giving a mature, disciplined performance as the holding midfielder in a 1-1 draw against Everton.

Attractive first team, newly sensible fiscal policies and English tyros pushing through: Chelsea is in danger of becoming a model club.

Increasingly mindful of its members’ public image, the League Managers Association currently conducts “an in-depth study into the technical area’’.

The LMA wants to know whether managers would prefer a broader view from a calmer vantage point up in the gods (as many rugby union coaches do).

Any move 'upstairs’ for Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and David Moyes should be resisted. Part of the match-day drama is provided by the vivid sight of managers patrolling the dugout, occasionally exchanging pleasantries or barbs with their counterparts. Television loves it, fans enjoy it.

Most managers are usually sporting to each other at the final whistle, their handshake being a welcome sign of respect. Putting managers up in the stands would lose that special moment.

Pat Nevin: Glass Half-Full

There may be an international break for the players at the moment, but not so for former winger Pat Nevin who remains firmly on Chelsea duty.

Are you a glass half-full or a half-empty person? Some of us are naturally positive, some less so. This week many of the players have had a rest, which for some would have been welcomed. The World Cup might seem like a lifetime ago already, but it will affect many players going forward for the rest of the season, so any rest is useful for them.

Many fans will think that after such a fantastic start to the campaign the last thing Chelsea as a team needed was an international break to interrupt the momentum. There could be something in this, we will have to wait and see. Carlo Ancelotti will, however, I suspect, be thinking ahead rather than back, after a relatively cushy introduction to season 2010/11 the real hard concentrated work starts here and now.

A quick look at the match calendar over the next 22 days shows that there will be no fewer than seven games squeezed into that period. The manager will be acutely aware of that and will already be considering who is capable of playing all or nearly all of those games and then kicking on afterwards, as it will scarcely let up afterwards.

I know that throughout my career although I enjoyed training, nothing was as much fun as playing, so a game every three or four days was fine for me. The thing is it didn't happen quite so much then as there weren't quite so many competitions, particularly the number and intensity of those currently experienced in the Champions League by our boys. Maybe I would have been a little more accepting of the idea of rest if the schedule had been this extreme throughout our seasons.

Of course it could be argued that every other top club is in the same boat, but English football is played at a tempo and ferocity throughout every 90 minutes that few other leagues can match, so the physical stress is more acute for our lads. This is the reason that the next three games in particular, which look like fairly surmountable obstacles on the surface, might just be a little trickier than expected.

West Ham haven't won a point in the league yet so they are struggling, Blackpool are the raw and unexpected newcomers in the division and in between them MSK Zilina aren't the most heralded name in Champions League history.

On the other hand, the Hammers will be desperate, on top of that it is a derby and it is away from home. Blackpool have surprised a few and will be flying with stratospheric levels of adrenalin visiting the mighty Chelsea. That game will also be after the Blues fly home from Slovakia in midweek, a notoriously draining experience.

Even Zilina will pose problems, anyone recall Chelsea's struggle against unfancied Apoel Nicosia early on in the Champions League last year? The one away goal was a hugely welcome relief that time. I suppose it is all down to that glass half-full or half-empty argument, draining though it may be it is better to be involved in these tournaments than not.

Two players who have got a little (unwanted) break are John Terry and Frank Lampard both being injured for the England squads this time round. Now I try very hard not to listen to the football phone-ins on UK radio but sometimes when driving in the car I have to suffer them for a little while if there is nothing on Radio 4. This week I was infuriated by the general reaction to JT and Frank.

England manages to beat a weak Bulgarian side and a host of callers are in touch right away to say it is time to get rid of our two lads for good. Now I understand people were unhappy with all the English World Cup performances but this was a knee jerk reaction that was particularly painful and I think unwarranted.

The Chelsea boys turn up every time when fit and haven't turned their backs on their countries even when the stick has been flying, the same cannot be said about certain others.

In JTs case it seems personal from some, but surely they can see that England are not exactly comfortable at centre-back right now? Even good players such as King and Ferdinand have serious ongoing injury problems while Carragher only agrees to play if it is a World Cup Finals. Certain England fans should be careful what they wish for, they might just get it and if John Terry decided to call it a day internationally they will have lost the best on-field leader they have.

As for Frank I have never got my head round the negativity bordering on animosity some non-Chelsea fans have for him. A perfect pro, a gentleman, a great player, a world-class scorer and an extraordinarily loyal footballer, the maliciousness doesn't make sense. He should be an icon to everyone in the game but too many for my liking couldn't get on those phone lines to the radio stations quickly enough to call for him to be jettisoned. In the simplest terms all Chelsea fans know the truth, you will only know their true value when they aren't there anymore.