Cascarino: Chelsea Won The Title Against ‘Pathetic’ Liverpool Last Weekend

I have been asked numerous times this week whether I think Chelsea will drop points at home to Wigan at the weekend and the answer has to be…no. The 2-0 win at Liverpool effectively means that Carlo Ancelotti’s team won the title last weekend as I cannot see Roberto Martinez’ team stopping the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

People argue that amazing things happen all the time in football and while that’s true, 99% of the time it doesn’t. I have no doubts that Chelsea will beat Wigan relatively comfortably and I would be more than happy to take bets from whoever thinks otherwise. The tough game in this run-in should have been at Anfield but to be honest, Rafa Benitez’ team were pretty pathetic on the day and not what you would expect from what is a great club. Ok, they put up a fight for 20 or so minutes but football is played over 90 minutes and the Reds in this time were distinctly second best. After all, Chelsea didn’t even play particularly well themselves but still won at a canter as Liverpool didn’t manage a shot on target for god knows how long.

Liverpool were there for the taking which is a sad indictment of how far they’ve fallen this season. Fair enough, they lost a draining Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday night and were without their best striker but a club of their standard should be able to bounce back. The Reds team had the look of a side that would be glad to see the back of what has been a simply terrible season. Even at the end of the match the fans left in droves as a half empty Anfield clapped off their team after a 2009/10 campaign to forget.

Chelsea will win the title but even they haven’t played as well as they can through much of the campaign. They were simply awful at Tottenham when they were really given the run around which you just wouldn’t expect from this Chelsea team but they remain top and will lift the title with the double looking a certainty.

The big four clubs have all been weaker than they have been in recent seasons but out of all of them, Chelsea were weakened the least. Manchester United lost two top quality players in Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo while Liverpool have never recovered from the sale of Xabi Alonso while Arsenal have flattered to deceive but ultimately not rectified the obvious frailties in their squad. Chelsea kept their squad together and although they barely strengthened it, that has been enough.

Next season will be even more interesting with the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Everton likely to be up there. All of those teams will strengthen with City definitely looking to bring in more talent which makes them a real threat to the usual status quo. Liverpool are the main team out of the big four that needs to strengthen the most which was backed up by comments from Rafa Benitez that he needed five or six new players in the summer. Now if you have been manager of a club for as long as the Spaniard that is a big statement as he has had enough time to build a capable squad, it’s not as if he has just joined a club that needs an overhaul, this is the team he has built. Those comments are a sad indictment of his own work and surely doesn’t reflect well on his own purchases.

Chelsea may secure the title this weekend but for me, the win at Anfield was the result that means the Blues are on course for a historic domestic double. Manchester United fans will be praying but there won’t be any shocks at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Cech Proud Of Tough Blues

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has hailed the team's resilience this season as they stand on the brink of an historic League and FA Cup double.

Chelsea's victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday made it six out of six against this season's Champions League-qualified teams - the first time in the Premier League era that a clean sweep over the other three has been achieved.

It is a marked contrast to last season when Chelsea won just one of the corresponding games - away to Arsenal. The other five yielded a home draw to Manchester United and four defeats.

But Cech highlights the team's resilience as another reason why Carlo Ancelotti's side top the Barclays summit with just one game left to play.

Whenever Chelsea suffered a setback, the Blues returned stronger and that is a major boost for Cech.

"We are confident and we know that we shouldn't lose two games in a row," said Cech. "We know that when something goes wrong, we always want to put it right the next game and so far it has worked well.

"We have won all of those big games home and away. Last season, before the change of the manager, we gave points to our rivals."

Sunday's results moved Cech level with Liverpool's Pepe Reina in the race for the Premier League Golden Glove. Both now have 16 clean sheets.

But Cech is putting all thoughts of personal glory aside as Chelsea chase their first title since 2006 this weekend.

Victory over Wigan at Stamford Bridge on Sunday would deliver the Barclays crown in Ancelotti's first season in charge.

"If at the beginning of the season someone had said we were going to play the last game at home and a win would win the league, I think everybody would have signed for it," declared Cech. "So we know what we have to do. We play at home and it is always good if you can win a title at home."

Nicolas Anelka Ready To Sign Two-Year Contract Extension At Chelsea

Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka is close to signing a two-year extension to remain at the club, according to the Daily Mail.

The French international's current deal expires at the end of next season, and both club and player have been in negotiations for a number of months. Anelka has reportedly been looking for a £40,000 raise from his current £80,000-a-week deal, which the club have been resistant to agreeing to as they attempt to cut costs across the board.

Both Michael Ballack and Joe Cole have seen their contract talks flounder in recent weeks over wage demands, but it appears either Anelka or club chief executive Ron Gourlay have made some compromises as the forward now looks set to secure his future at Stamford Bridge until 2013.

The 31-year-old has scored nine goals in 32 Premier League games this season, adding a further seven assists.

Hernandez Pleased With Chelsea Interest

Spanish international Pablo Hernandez admits he is happy to learn that Chelsea is tracking him.

The 25-year-old Valencia wide man is reportedly high on the Blues' list of targets for the summer.

Sources close to the Spanish club have confirmed that Chelsea scouts have been watching him, although no contact has been made between the two clubs.

Speaking after Valencia's 3-1 win over Xerez on Tuesday, Hernandez admitted he was happy to hear about Chelsea following him.

"Chelsea? It is flattering to me because it demonstrates that I am doing well this season," he said.

"But now is not the moment for me to speak about this subject.

"As normal this news appears at the end of the season but the important thing for me is to continue getting victories for Valencia and to confirm our place in the Champions League."

No Chelsea Approach For Thiago

The agent of AC Milan defender Thiago Silva has played down reports linking the Brazilian with a move to Chelsea.

Sunday newspapers credited Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, formerly of Milan, with an interest in a reunion with the 25-year-old.

But Thiago's representative, Paulo Fernando Tonietto, insists he has not been contacted by Stamford Bridge officials and that his client wants to see out his current deal at the San Siro, which lasts until 2013.

"Thiago Silva is very happy at Milan and he wants to honour his contract," Tonietto told calciomercato.it. "Galliani says he is not for sale and he is the boss."

On the rumoured interest of Chelsea, Tonietto said: "I know nothing because if there was a team interested in Thiago they should contact AC Milan, I am just his agent.

"I can only say that Ancelotti knows him well, and not only him.

"I think that Thiago Silva is the best defender in the world and these stories are further evidence of his good work this season."

Chelsea Ready To Outbid Manchester City In The Race For Liverpool Striker Fernando Torres

Chelsea will try to blow Manchester City out of the water in the race for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres this summer, planning a bid that could reach £70million to bring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge.

Introductory talks over Torres have already occurred and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is now ready to do whatever it takes to acquire the 26-year-old star from the Reds, according to the Daily Mail.

The Blues can clinch their third Premier League title under Abramovich with a victory over Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge, and still have a FA Cup final against Portsmouth to look forward to.

However, despite the likelihood that Chelsea win the Double this season, Abramovich will be looking to add more stars in an effort to make a run at a Champions League title.

Torres came to Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in 2007 for £20m and recently committed to the Reds by signing a four year contract which pays him £110,000-a-week.

However, a disappointing season in which Liverpool was unable to qualify for the Champions League, and the possible departure of manager Rafael Benitez could force Torres to depart Anfield in the summer.

Manchester City will have a better chance to sign Torres if they beat out Tottenham Hotspur for the last Champions League spot, but playing for established contenders like Chelsea could be a more attractive prospect for the Spaniard.

Chelsea Set For Fight With Top European Clubs To Sign Gimnasia La Plata Star Fabian Rinaudo

Chelsea will have to battle the cream of Europe for highly rated Argentinian holding midfielder Fabian Rinaudo, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

The 22-year-old enjoys a growing reputation in the game, after a solid season with current club Gimnasia la Plata. Compared to Liverpool's Javier Mascherano, the combative holding player has reportedly caught the eye of Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The club will have to move quickly if they are to capture their man as the diminuitive youngster reportedly has a number of admirers around Europe. Spanish side Valencia have reportedly already tabled a £5 million bid for his services, while Galatasaray, Napoli and Juventus have all been linked.

In the past Everton have been tipped with an offer for Rinaudo, although the Toffees are likely to be muscled out by the increased competition if a bidding war starts this summer.

Rinauldo has been capped for Argentina by manager Diego Maradona, and is on his provisional list of players that could be in his World Cup squad.

Schalke Linked With Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack

German international Michael Ballack recently admitted that his Chelsea future is in doubt as contract negotiations haven't resulted in a new deal yet and the midfielder could very well leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The experienced midfielder was previously linked with Inter, but a return to the Bundesliga now also appears to be an option with Schalke having shown an interest in signing Ballack.

"We are indeed interested in signing Michael Ballack. I'm confident that he's ready to accept a pay cut if he decides to return to the Bundesliga this summer," Schalke coach Felix Magath was quoted as saying by Berliner Kurier.

However, the 33-year-old midfielder has not given up on a new Chelsea deal just yet and contract talks are expected to be resumed at the end of the season.

Ballack played for Chemnitzer, Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich before he joined Chelsea in 2006. He has since made over 100 league appearances with the Londoners.

Ancelotti To Present Summer Transfer Target List To Abramovich

Carlo Ancelotti will present his summer transfer target list to owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday.

Abramovich has so far held back his spending plans but with the club on the verge of the Double, he is now expected to loosen the purse strings for Ancelotti.

Among the names Ancelotti is expected to put forward will be AC Milan pair, striker Alexandre Pato and Brazilian compatriot defender Thiago Silva, in a joint deal that would cost the club about £70 million.

He may have to settle for lesser lights, though, with Abramovich known to be reluctant to spend the required £40m on another Ancelotti target, Atletico Madrid and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.

Roman Abramovich Set To Demand Why Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea Team Did Not Win Champions League

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will be asked to explain to owner Roman Abramovich why his side have not won the Champions League - even if the Italian coach manages to seal a Premier League and FA Cup double, according to a report from The Sun.

The Blues will win the league if they beat Wigan Athletic at the weekend, whilst they meet Portsmouth in the FA Cup final on May 15.

Nevertheless, director Mike Forde insisted that there will still be a comprehensive review process at the end of the campaign to establish just why the Londoners failed on the continental stage.

"The day after we win the title we will ask ourselves why we didn't win the Champions League.

"In football it is about getting better every day, that's what we are aiming for.

"[Jose] Mourinho started with this vision years ago and he passed the torch successfully to other big managers like Guus Hiddink and Ancelotti."

Forde also insisted that the club were working well when so many fine coaches appeared to want to come to Stamford Bridge.

"That the best coaches in the world think we are doing a good job is clear," he added.

"Carlo Ancelotti brought only one assistant with him and that tells us we have a good staff of our own - and that's what it is all about in the end.

"So the way we are working, that's not a secret - every club in the world can have a copy of that.

"The real secret, if you can call it that, is the people who work for us."

FA Youth Cup Victory Points To Bright New Age For Chelsea

The next fortnight may be littered with silverware for Chelsea though they are already celebrating their first trophy of the season, slipped in almost under the radar. The FA Youth Cup was won for the first time in 49 years with a pair of superbly executed second-half goals. The senior side will hope this is a sign of things to come.

Aston Villa can take great heart from their 3-2 aggregate defeat here but victory will be seen as significant given the focus placed on – and finance poured into – Chelsea's youth system. Carlo Ancelotti is due to meet the club's hierarchy this week for the latest round of discussions over summer transfer policy, though there has already been a shift in their approach.

Where once there were limitless funds to strengthen, the Italian has already emphasised his commitment to youth development by admitting last month that a quintet of youngsters – he singled out Jeffrey Bruma, Fabio Borini, Gaël Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and the 21-year-old Nemanja Matic – will be regulars in his match-day squads next term.

Only one of those five featured here. Bruma, the 18-year-old centre-half who has made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, planted a free header wide early on. There were better indications of his quality thereafter but Ancelotti will have been frustrated at the ease with which Kofi Poyser leapt above the centre-half to flick in Villa's opening goal just after the half-hour. Bruma is better than that.

Of those emerging from the academy set-up, the manager has similarly high hopes for Jacob Mellis, the 15-year-old Nathaniel Chalobah and Josh McEachran. The last, who has been training once a week with the first-team squad, will sign a professional contract at the end of the season. He was a blur of clever touches here, growing into the contest. The right-back, Billy Clifford, also impressed while Conor Clifford battered in a fine late winner.

They could yet become familiar names. Ancelotti intends to follow Arsène Wenger's approach to the Carling Cup next season, cramming his side with younger blood. The team that went out of that competition at Blackburn in this season's quarter-final included 11 full internationals, with five players over 30 and none younger than 22. Given that John Terry, in the stands tonight, was the last youth-team graduate to establish himself in the senior set-up at this club, the hope is that times are changing.

Roman Abramovich wants this to happen and his sporting director, Frank Arnesen, is aware of the need to cultivate players capable of making their mark in the Premier League given the investment made in youth team development in recent years. "It's not easy for the coach to bring players in [to the first team]," Arnesen said. "A club like Chelsea is all about winning. You can't have young players in the team and not be winning."

The implementation of the Premier League's Grow Your Own policy, by which eight homegrown players – registered with an English or Welsh club for at least three years before their 21st birthday – must be included in a 25-man squad to be declared on 1 September, will effectively force their hand. "It will give clubs an extra incentive to invest in youth," the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said. In that context the departures of such seniors as Juliano Belletti, Deco and Hilário are more understandable.

Villa, winners of this competition in 2002 when a team that included Liam Ridgwell and Steven Davis defeated Wayne Rooney's Everton, are already an academy success story. Ryan Simmonds drew a fine save from Sam Walker before Poyser's third goal of the cup run – superbly taken after Samir Carruthers' surge and Simmonds' cross – edged them ahead on aggregate. It was a finish of which Gabriel Agbonlahor would have been proud.

Martin O'Neill will have been encouraged by his team's poise and style. They benefited from Chelsea's profligacy, Jacopo Sala dragging a shot wide of the far post and Benjamin Siegrist doing well to tip Aziz Deen Conteh's attempt on to the woodwork, before Marko Mitrovic touched in the excellent Sala's centre to put Chelsea level. Victory, confirmed by Conor Clifford's long-range shot, was harsh on Villa but will have prompted relief of sorts for Arnesen. The Premier League and FA Cup will draw the focus for now but there is clearly promise to be had in this club's longer-term future.

Lampard - We Had To Dig In

Frank Lampard believes winning the Premier League this season would rank alongside the two titles Chelsea won during the Jose Mourinho era.

Chelsea head into the final game of the season on Sunday one point clear of Manchester United and knowing victory over Wigan Athletic would end a four-year wait to be crowned champions.

The Blues had been back-to-back title winners under former manager Mourinho and Lampard is hoping the team can lift the trophy in front of their own fans.

However, after losing to Wigan away from home earlier in the campaign, the free-scoring midfielder is adamant Chelsea is not going to be taking three points for granted.

"It's been a season of peaks and troughs and that will give us just as nice a feeling as the other two titles," said Lampard. "To win it with Mourinho, especially the first year, was amazing.

"But this one, with the ups and downs, the need to dig in, the low points of the season at times and the togetherness we needed, then just to be within touching distance of it is a nice feeling.

"To actually go and do it after all the ups and downs of the year will be great. We'd have taken going into the last game being top and needing to win it to win the league.

"What's happened means we won't take it for granted even now. Wigan have beaten us this season, and if you relax and think 'we're there', it can bite you on the bum."

Lampard also believes that the cockiness that was a characteristic of Mourinho's time in charge at Stamford Bridge has come to the fore again in recent weeks.

He added: "In this last bit of the season we certainly have done that. We have to believe in ourselves.

"There's a real lot of talent in this squad, a real load of ability and you have to walk out with a bit of cockiness.

"That is what the best teams have always done over the years. Maybe there have been times when we've gone back into our shells and not been together quite as much over the past couple of seasons. But we've certainly got our house in order over the past two months.

"We've got two games to win the Double - that's not bad! It will be historic, great for the club and the fans.

"These last three years we've won FA Cups and stuff, but it has been frustrating to see Manchester United dominating and that's why there's a real determination this year."

John Terry: Carlo Ancelotti's Calmness Has Been Crucial At Chelsea

Chelsea skipper John Terry feels that the way in which Carlo Ancelotti has been able to calm his players down at crucial times has been vital to the Blues' efforts over the course of the campaign.

Chelsea leads the Premier League table going into their final game of the season against Wigan Athletic.

Terry points to the weekend win at Liverpool as a key example of how Ancelotti has been able to keep his players focused and their emotions in check when it matters.

At Anfield, Salomon Kalou had a claim for a penalty turned down just prior to the interval, but Ancelotti made sure that his side's frustrations were channelled positively.

"It could have been really costly," Terry told Chelsea TV when asked about the penalty claim.

"Salomon should have had a penalty away to Inter Milan as well, that proved really important, and again on Sunday, Liverpool going down to 10 men and us going 2-0 up could have been really decisive.

"I think he was really frustrated as well but the manager calmed us down at half-time," the captain revealed.

"In the second half I thought we played a lot better, a lot more controlled.

"We just needed to keep the ball a little bit more, Liverpool looked tired and were pressing us much less and we needed the experienced players like Lamps [Frank Lampard] and Bally [Michael Ballack] to keep the ball, as they did."

Terry was pleased with the display at Anfield and is now looking forward to the fans helping the team seal the title against Wigan Athletic on the final day of the season.

"We really fancied our chances and it is not always you can say that at Anfield. It was just going to be a case of finding our feet. The lads were excited as well as nervous beforehand, which is a good mixture," he added.

"It was a really professional performance with great support from the fans, they were brilliant and it is looking good.

"I want to get my hands on that trophy again but the job is not done yet and it is going to be a tough game [against Wigan]."

Sinclair Patient Over Future Plans

Scott Sinclair will return to Chelsea this summer to discover his future after a disappointing season with Wigan.

The 21-year-old moved to the DW Stadium on a season-long loan deal in August, but has been unable to claim regular first-team football under Roberto Martinez.

Sinclair has made one start and 17 substitute appearances in the Barclays Premier League for the Latics, with four starts in cup competitions.

"I've had a frustrating season because I haven't really played as much as I would like," he said.

"But I think I've learned a lot off the field, because I haven't been on it much."

Sinclair was speaking at Stamford Park at a media event for the BT Paralympic World Cup, in which his brother Martin will represent Great Britain in the seven-a-side football competition for athletes with cerebral palsy.

But it is Stamford Bridge where his future will be determined.

Chelsea is on the verge of title success under Carlo Ancelotti, who has stated the Blues will rely more on their academy graduates next season.

Whether that includes Sinclair remains to be seen and the Bath-born winger will seek discussions with the Italian to determine his fate.

"Next season I'm just going to go back to Chelsea and see what happens," added the former England under-19 international, who will be a spectator as his parent club Chelsea look to seal the title with victory over Wigan on Sunday.

"I haven't really planned that far ahead.

"I just need to speak to the gaffer (Ancelotti) when I get back, see what happens and go from there."

Chelsea Preparing A Sensational €80 Million Double Swoop

Chelsea are preparing to bid €80 million to persuade AC Milan to sell both Pato and Thiago Silva according to reports in both Italian and Spanish newspapers. Chelsea and their manager Carlo Ancelotti have been linked with Pato all season and despite AC Milan from their president downwards stating that Pato is going nowhere, the West London club is confident that the Milan club will accept the €80 million offer for both players.

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport are adamant that Chelsea will be bidding, the story has now been picked up by Marca the Spanish daily and they are not the only ones, more and more online and offline media outlets are starting to believe that Chelsea are very serious about attempting to get the Italian’s to change their minds in the face of such a high offer.

Real Madrid have also been linked with Pato but it is Chelsea that are seen as firm favourites now and a bid is expected imminently, but that’s not all, Corriere dello Sport also claims that Chelsea are still interested in Kaka and that they have not given up hope of one day signing him also. Looks like Ancelotti will be spending a bundle this summer.

Liverpool In Pole Position To Sign Chelsea's Joe Cole

The Daily Mail reports this morning that Liverpool will look to sign Joe Cole , who looks unlikely to sign a new contract with Chelsea and will be available on a Bosman free transfer.

Although the 28 year-old has made it clear that he would like to stay at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich is looking to curb spending on exorbitant wages and is resisting Cole's demands.

It is thought that Liverpool would have to pay Cole around £6.2million a year in wages — £120,000 a week.

However, it appears that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is looking to instill a greater English spine into the club and he has already signed promising English youngsters Raheem Sterling from QPR and Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton.

Although Liverpool have failed to qualify for next season's Champions League, Cole would likely see a move to Anfield as an excellent option if Chelsea continue to refuse his demands.

However, the continuing uncertainly over the future of the club and a bid from either Tottenham or Manchester City guaranteeing Champions League football could scupper Liverpool's plans.

Chelsea Must Sign David Villa Or Sergio Aguero, Urges Former Blues Star

Chelsea should sign one of Sergio Aguero and David Villa along with French international Franck Ribery to beef up their side for next season, believes their former defender Jason Cundy.

Speaking exclusively to Goal.com UK, Cundy said he hopes top new signings will be supplemented by the pick of Chelsea's promising academy youngsters in next season's squad, but that the experienced nucleus of the team must remain in place, despite recent speculation linking Frank Lampard with a move abroad.

"I'd like to see a frontman," said Cundy, "a David Villa or Sergio Aguero type player, someone with something a bit different, who can maybe play off the front man, whether it be Didier (Drogba) or Nicolas (Anelka)."

Cundy, who represented the Blues between 1988 and 1992, is looking forward to the return of Michael Essien, who "will bring some energy and pace in the middle," but added that the Ghanaian would benefit from a creative foil. "I'd like to see a bit of pace in the middle of the park," he said.

"I think we lack pace sometimes, we can be a little slow to react and when we counter-attack teams can regroup quite quickly against us. Someone like a Ribery - or Arjen Robben, though he won't come back of course - who can travel 30 or 40 yards with the ball, at pace."

With his contract set to expire at the campaign's end, doubts remain over Joe Cole's future at Stamford Bridge. Cundy is concerned and thinks he may have missed his chance to fill the creative role for Chelsea and, with the World Cup fast approaching, England too. "Joe Cole is a surprising one," he said, “but he's really struggled this season, partly because of injuries which have meant he's struggled to hold down a first-team spot, and if he can't do that then obviously his World Cup ambitions are going to be severely dented as well."

Cundy has observed the club's academy products at close quarters, having covered their progress in his role with Chelsea TV, and sees a few with the potential to step up. He thinks this may tempt Carlo Ancelotti to move on some of the many 30-somethings in the camp. "I think Chelsea have one or two youngsters that can perhaps fill some boots," he said.

"There's Jeffrey Bruma for example. The question is, can he come in and replace (Ricardo) Carvalho? I think he probably can. He's an excellent talent and he could easily become our third or fourth centre-back, as Ivanovic can play there too.

"There's possibly a space to be freed up with someone like Carvalho, who's had a lot of injuries and might want to move on. Belletti's contract is up at the end of June, so you'd have to consider him as a man who’ll move on."

Frank Arnesen was expensively recruited from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2005 to oversee youth development and despite his optimism over the long-awaited fruits of his labours, Cundy warns that results are now expected. "It takes time to happen, but he's been there a while, and there comes a time when the talking has got to stop, and you've got to start delivering," said Cundy.

"There's a couple like Bruma, (Patrick) Van Aanholt, the left-back, and young (Fabio) Borini, who is that type of player I was talking about to play off the big man. He's not quite ready. And of course Gael Kakuta, who has bags of ability in the middle of the park, and don't forget Michael Mancienne, who's been out on loan at Wolves. Jack Cork has had glowing reports about him from his loan spells. Realistically, Bruma and Kakuta are probably the ones who are good enough to step up at this stage, with Mancienne maybe able to fill a place in the squad."

Nevertheless the TalkSPORT host was quick to praise the contribution of the senior squad members to the champions-elect's title push. "I don't think there's any need for wholesale changes (in the summer)," he said. "I really don't. Didier's here to stay, as is Nicolas Anelka."

Cundy stressed it is imperative that midfield lynchpin Lampard stays at the club, in the wake of rumours linking him with a move to Inter Milan, or even Real Madrid should his former coach Jose Mourinho switch to the Bernabeu.

"I know there's been a lot of speculation over Frank, and if a club tables a £30m-£40m bid, then it gives the club something to think about," admitted Cundy. "But when he's in the form he's continued to be in this season, how do you replace him? I wouldn't let him go."

Cundy, whose also turned out for Tottenham and Chelsea's FA Cup final opponents Portsmouth during his playing career, was keen to eulogise Ancelotti's influence at Stamford Bridge. He firmly believes that the Italian's personality is finally allowing Chelsea to step out of the not-insignificant shadow of the Mourinho era. "This is a different Chelsea side," stressed Cundy. "There are two ways of playing 4-3-3; as a 4-5-1 when we lose possession and 4-3-3 on the attack, but he tends to go in search of that next goal. There have been games this season when Chelsea have been 3-0 up at half-time and we've gone on to win the game 7-0 or 7-1."

The safety-first tactics of Mourinho's sides have now been firmly consigned to the past, he said. "I remember under Jose (Mourinho), if we were 3-0 up at half-time, we'd get to full-time and it would still be three or four nil," remembered Cundy. "I think Ancelotti's work ethic is to say 'let's continue looking for goals, don't slack and don't be happy with just three-nil'. That's definitely something he's brought to Chelsea in a very short time, and it's a different Chelsea to that which people are used to seeing."

Cundy thinks the former AC Milan coach has already carved his name in the club's annals. "For the team to score more goals than any other time in their history in his first season tells you everything you need to know about how he wants to play the game."

Cech: Beating The Best

There are few in the Chelsea squad who think about football facts and figures more deeply than Petr Cech and the significance of Chelsea's 'big four' success this season is not lost upon him.

The Liverpool win made it six out of six against this season's Champions League-qualified teams - the first time in the Premier League era that either ourselves, Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool have enjoyed a clean sweep over the other three.

It is certainly a contrast to last season when we won just one of the corresponding games - away to Arsenal. The other five yielded a home draw to Manchester United and four defeats.

'So far the biggest difference to last season is that,' acknowledges Cech.

'We have won all of those games home and away. Last season, before the change of the manager we gave points to our rivals.'

Cech highlights the team's resilience this season as another reason why we top the pile with one game to go. There have been set backs but they have more often than not been followed much better displays.

'We are confident and we know that we shouldn't lose two games in a row,' says the keeper. ‘We know that when something goes wrong, we always want to put it right the next game and so far it has worked well.'

Sunday's results move Cech level with Liverpool's Pepe Reina in the race for the Premier League Golden Glove. Both have 16 clean sheets.

The Chelsea keeper naturally has more pressing concerns this coming weekend.

'If at the beginning of the season someone had said we were going to play the last game at home and a win would win the league, I think everybody would have signed for it. So we know what we have to do. We play at home and it is always good if you can win a title at home.'

Zesh Backs Chelsea's Asian Initiative

Britain’s top Asian footballer Zesh Rehman is urging young players from the Asian community to get involved with Chelsea's Search for an Asian Star initiative.

Rehman is the only Asian player to have played at every level in the English game and has backed Chelsea's groundbreaking scheme which is designed to boost participation levels throughout the game.

"Get involved and sign up now - this is a fantastic opportunity to show how many talented players are out there,” said the Bradford Captain.” It's not just in the Premier League where Asian players are under represented it's at all levels and the Search for an Asian Star programme is a great way of breaking down the barriers. My cousin went down last year and he had a great time and learnt a lot."

Last year, two of the three winners went on to play for professional clubs. This year Chelsea have doubled the number of age groups participating and six young players aged eight to 13 will win the chance to have a weeks trial at Chelsea's Academy, playing with some of the best young talent in the country.

Ian Rush Credits Carlo Ancelotti's Tactics For Chelsea's Victory Over Liverpool

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush has hailed the astute tactics deployed by Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti at Anfield at the weekend.

A 2-0 win for the Blues meant that they took a massive step towards winning the Premier League title, and Rush believes that Ancelotti had prepared his team's shape superbly, forcing Steven Gerrard into the crucial mistake which gifted Chelsea the opening goal.

"You have to give credit to Carlo Ancelotti for getting his tactics right at Anfield," Rush told The Liverpool Echo.

"Initially, it looked as though Chelsea didn’t want to take the game to Liverpool. They were quite happy where they were. Chelsea were set up to prevent us moving the ball forward.

"By closing Liverpool down and not allowing us time on the ball, Chelsea forced the mistake for the first goal.

"In football you instinctively look to play forward. If nothing is on you then look sideways and eventually backwards.

"The way Chelsea were set up, it’s difficult for Steven Gerrard to go anywhere other than backwards from the position he’s in when he makes a wayward back pass.

"By forcing him backwards Didier Drogba is then alert to the danger and does what he does best to hand Chelsea the lead.

"Ancelotti had done his homework. Liverpool sometimes have a tendency not to look forward first, and sideways or backwards becomes the first option.

"While Gerrard will be first to admit he’s made a mistake, it’s the positioning of Chelsea’s players that has restricted his options and forced him into the error."

Rush also believes that the Reds looked tired though, after a season in which disappointment as much as leg weariness has taken its toll.

"Fatigue has come into it too. The Europa League semi-final defeat just a few days earlier will have taken a lot out of the players," he added.

"If you’re winning, you don’t get tired. But if you’re losing, you do; both physically and mentally. Players like Jamie Carragher and Dirk Kuyt have played in nearly every game this season. It’s bound to catch up with you at some point."