Fabio Capello: Joe Cole Has The X Factor

Fabio Capello believes Joe Cole is his maverick man with the X Factor. And that is the reason he is going to the World Cup.

Cole has already had one good week as Chelsea have landed the Double with their FA Cup triumph added to their first Premier League title in four years.

But with the celebrations over, Cole will now be champing at the bit to get to Austria and start preparing for South Africa.

The 28-year-old has become incredibly frustrated recently at having to watch so many of Chelsea’s games from the bench.

But Capello will now hand Cole the chance to make up for that with a place in his final 23.

Cole has always offered something different and the England manager knows that.

After his arrival as the first foreign England boss in early 2001, Sven Goran Eriksson revealed that it was Cole who he thought was the country’s greatest talent – Wayne Rooney was only 15 at the time.

He was drooling over the prospect of the star quality that Cole promised, and that has not just disappeared.

What makes Cole stand out from the other players he is competing against for a place in South Africa is his technical ability.

Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright Phillips are speed kings.

They suit the modern-day tactic of counter-attacking football which will no doubt dominate the tournament this summer.

They frighten teams with their raw pace, but the problem is that they are not always in control of the ball. Cole is.

Just like David Beckham, who defied critics to remain an important part of Capello’s strategy, Cole knows how to retain the ball. And at international level that is crucial.

Giving the ball away is a sin which England have paid for time and again in the past, but Cole has never been guilty of that.

Rooney has dominated the headlines for England since making his breakthrough as the youngest ever player to pull on a Three Lions shirt at the time he was handed his debut.

But the Manchester United striker has always maintained that it is Joe Cole who is the cleverest player in the squad.

And he emphasised that this season when he scored that brilliant goal at Old Trafford to help sink United.

It was a moment of brilliance, and one Walcott, Lennon and Wright-Phillips, as well as the highly-rated Adam Johnson, would struggle to produce.

He flicked the ball between his legs as a cross came in from the right and sparked the victory which won Chelsea the title.

It is hardly a one-off. Just look at the goal he scored in the last World Cup against Sweden when he hit a brilliant volley from outside the area.

Capello pointed out recently that Cole is not quite the ‘player he remembered’. But Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has been crucial in convincing Capello that the midfielder is not far off being back to his best.

England do not have many players who are gifted enough to drop off the main striker and help run the game.

Rooney is obviously that man for England and the world-class player that Capello will be relying on to spearhead the country’s challenge.

But if anything did happen to Rooney, a suspension or a slight injury, then Cole could be the man to step into his place.

He loves playing centrally and has the vision to pull off that role. He also has the experience.

It is no coincidence that Capello has spent so much time trying to persuade Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher to come out of international retirement. He has succeeded with Carra and failed with Scholes, but it is their experience which speak volumes, even if their presence may upset some of the other players.

Cole is the same. He has 53 caps to his name and has been around the England scene for years.

He has the big-game mentality and just as important an incredible hunger and desire.

Having missed so much football due to his cruciate injury, the last set of fitness tests at Chelsea showed that Cole was the best in his club at the moment.

He is also out of contract this summer and while his future is a concern for him, he has always just loved playing football.

He may stick with Chelsea or could move on to either Manchester United or City – who knows?

But one thing is for sure, if Capello hands him his chance, it is unlikely Cole will do anything to waste it – which can only be good news for England.

Joe Cole To Go To The World Cup Afrer Ancelotti Persuades Capello

Joe Cole will go to the World Cup after Fabio Capello was persuaded by Carlo Ancelotti to take him to South Africa.

England manager Capello had lengthy talks with the Chelsea boss at the end of the season.

And Ancelotti has assured his fellow Italian that Cole is in tip-top form. The Chelsea midfielder was left out of the squad for March’s friendly with Egypt and it looked like he would be a major casualty this summer.

But Capello named him in his 30-man training squad, and he is a certainty to avoid the painful chop next week when the England manager names his final 23 for the tournament.

The only way the 28-year-old will miss out is if he somehow plays himself out of the squad in training and the next two friendlies. But Cole is in peak condition after missing so much of the season with injury, and struggling to make the Chelsea team.

Capello still believes that Cole offers him something different from the other wide men in the squad.

He is battling for a World Cup place alongside fellow wingers Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon.

Cole last played for England back in 2008 which was before he injured his cruciate ligament.

He is among England’s senior experienced players having already won 53 caps, and was one of their star performers at the last World Cup.

Cole has had a tough season as contract talks have broken down with Chelsea, and he can now leave Stamford Bridge on a free contract.

But he will be delighted by the news that he figures so highly in Capello’s plans, and that Ancelotti has spoken up for him.

England were at their high-altitude Austrian training camp yesterday working with oxygen masks in a bid to get them used to conditions in South Africa.

Michael Ballack Says His Germany Career Will Continue

Germany captain Michael Ballack insists he will play international football again despite being forced to miss the World Cup with an ankle injury.

The Chelsea midfielder was injured in the FA Cup final in a tackle from Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has apologised for the incident.

"I won't let my international career come to an end because of a foul like this," the 33-year-old Ballack said.

"I will consider things in calm over the next few weeks."

Ballack, who has made 98 appearances for his country and played in the last two World Cups, has to overcome two damaged ligaments and is expected to resume training in eight weeks.

With Germany's first match on 13 June, the Chelsea star now has to come to terms with watching the World Cup finals from the sidelines.

"I gave everything for the goal of South Africa and now the World Cup has been taken away from me in a brutal way," added Ballack.

"It is bitter to be hacked down in such a way in the last game of the season. It hurts."

Ballack limped out of the FA Cup final on Saturday - a game that Chelsea won 1-0 - after 25 minutes following the rash challenge by Boateng, who was born in Berlin to a Ghanaian father and a German mother.

The Pompey midfielder, who could be in the Ghana side to face Germany in Group D in South Africa, insisted on Tuesday his tackle had not been intentional and he was sorry.

"I just came in too late and made full contact," he told Sport Bild online. "It looks pretty stupid."

German fans have vented their anger on dozens of websites, calling Boateng 'public enemy number one' and setting up chat rooms called '82 million against Boateng' or 'Anti-Boateng Group'.

Boateng's half-brother Jerome is in the preliminary Germany squad for the tournament which takes place between 11 June and 11 July.

Roman Abramovich Still Owed £726m Under Complex Chelsea Structure

When Chelsea published their accounts for 2008-09 earlier this year, the club announced that its owner, the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, had written off his mammoth £726m loan to the club, and converted it into shares.

But is not quite as clear-cut as that. Abramovich channeled his loans to the club, since taking it over in 2003 and wanting to spend its way to trophies, via a holding company, Chelsea Limited. He loaned money to Chelsea Limited, who then loaned it on to Chelsea FC plc, which runs the club.

It is true that the loans from the holding company to Chelsea FC plc were fully converted to shares last year. However Abramovich's loan to Chelsea Limited, the holding company which owns Chelsea FC plc, was not. That loan remains owing; in fact it increased from £701m, because Abramovich loaned another £25m in a year when Chelsea's extravagant spending, and the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari and his coaching team, produced losses of £47m.

The accounts of Chelsea Limited (whose name was changed during the year to Fordstam Limited), show that loan still outstanding: £726m, owed to Abramovich.

A spokesman for the club confirmed that yesterday: "Recapitalisation of loans happened at the level of Chelsea FC plc, not the holding company (Fordstam), therefore making the football club debt free."

That is true. But Fordstam owns the football club company, and owes Abramovich £726m. The loan is interest free, but it is repayable if Abramovich gives 18 months' notice. The Russian could still demand the money back some day, either if the club is making a profit, or if he were to sell it. He has not, in fact, written off the huge loans he has made on his Chelsea adventure.

John Terry: Now Chelsea Must Conquer Europe

Chelsea skipper John Terry believes that the time has come for the Blues to establish themselves as a true force on the European stage after Carlo Ancelotti side captured the club's first domestic league and cup double this season.

The Londoners exited this season's Champions League at the last-16 stage after defeat by their former manager Jose Mourinho's Inter, but Terry has revealed that owner Roman Abramovich has made it clear to the players that Europe should be their priority now.

"There is no doubt in Roman's mind and all our minds - we clearly want the Champions League," Terry said, according to The Sun.

"He said we must get it next season, even though he is delighted with the double, and we're determined to do it."

Chelsea were beaten finalists in the tournament in 2008, losing on penalties to Manchester United in the final in Moscow.

Terry feels it is time that the Blues progressed from being 'nearly men' and turned themselves into European Champions.

"We've come so close over the last five or six years and, at times, have been the best team in the competition, yet haven't gone on to win it," the England defender added.

"If we can add the Champions League to that list, the fans, players, management and Roman would be very happy."

Nicolas Anelka Set To Sign New Contract At Chelsea

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is set to sign a new contract with the double winners, according to skysports.com.

The French international's current deal expires in 12 months' time, but the Blues had put talks about a new deal on hold until the end of the season. With the Premier League and FA Cup in the bag, the club has returned to the negotiating table to extend Anelka's stay.

The 31-year old's agent Doug Pingisi has confirmed that discussions have begun and his client looks likely to remain in London

"We are still in talks [about a new deal] and hopefully we will have news soon," Pingisi told Sky Sports.

"He is happy at Chelsea and of course he wants to stay at Chelsea."

Anelka joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January 2008. He fired in 11 goals to help Carlo Ancelotti's side to the league last season.

Lampard Happy To Take Penalties For England Despite Final Blunder

Frank Lampard has appealed to England manager Fabio Capello to continue to let him take the penalties for the national team, despite missing the target from 12 yards in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

The Chelsea midfielder has been England's regular penalty-taker since taking over from David Beckham in 2005, and his record is pretty good. Since then he has scored five penalties and missed one, against Hungary in 2006. He has also taken part in two penalty shoot-outs – he scored against Portugal at Euro 2004 in Lisbon as England lost 6-5 on penalties, but missed against the same opposition at the 2006 World Cup, when England lost at the quarter-final stage 3-1 on penalties after a goalless draw.

Lampard went up against his England team-mate David James in the Portsmouth goal late on in Chelsea's 1-0 victory, but pulled his shot well wide of James' right-hand post, hitting the keeper's water bottle. The midfielder said: "It was a disappointing penalty to say the least. I actually changed my mind in the run-up which is a bit of a sin. Once you do that, you are probably going to miss and I did. I've taken quite a few penalties against Jamo [David James] in my time and scored a lot in games and in training and sometimes he saves them."

Normally Lampard is one of the most reliable penalty-takers in the Premier League. He scored ten times from the spot this past season, although he suffered a costly miss in December when Manchester City keeper Shay Given pulled off a save in City's 2-1 victory.

Lampard claimed the Wembley miss might actually work in England's favour, as it will ensure that he guards against complacency in the coming weeks. "That kind of thing makes me address it and look at it. When I go away with England I will work on that kind of stuff. Sometimes you need a little reminder of what you have got to do," he said.

Asked if he expects to take the kicks for England this summer, Lampard replied that at least there will be no Didier Drogba trying to take the ball from him, as happened in Chelsea's final league game against Wigan when the Ivorian was desperate to win the Golden Boot. The Chelsea striker went on to score a hat-trick in that game but not before he had spent much of the first half clearly displeased that he had not been given the opportunity to take the penalty.

Lampard said: "I still hope so. Drogba don't play for England so he can't argue with [me taking the penalties]. No, it would not put me off. I've missed penalties for England, I've missed penalties for Chelsea and it comes with the territory.

"It wouldn't put me off. I'm big enough to stand up. I missed and it will play on my mind a little but it will be completely overshadowed by the fact that we won the game and won the Double.

"Thank God it happened in a game that we went on to win. Hopefully it is out of my system now."

England have a dismal record in penalty shoot-outs in international tournaments. They have been knocked out of five major tournaments on penalties, losing to Portugal in 2004 and 2006, to Germany in 1990 and 1996, and to Argentina at the 1998 World Cup. They have won just one, against Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro '96.

Chelsea Midfielder Deco Agrees Deal To Sign For Fluminense after World Cup

Reports in Brazil this morning claim Chelsea midfielder Deco has agreed a deal with Fluminense to sign after the World Cup in South Africa.

Renato Maurício Prado, a columnist for O Globo, reported the deal following discussions between Deco and Fluminense on Monday.

Deco preferred to concentrate on the World Cup before completing the move, in South Africa he could play against Brazil on June 25 for the Portugal national team.

The 32-year-old central midfielder made 23 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League and Champions League in 2009/2010, scoring two goals.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to bring younger players into his squad next season and the Blues are also eager to get Deco off the wage bill at Stamford Bridge.

Michael Essien Winning World Cup Fitness Race

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is confident of winning his race against time - and a knee injury - to be fit for next month's World Cup.

The Chelsea ace has not kicked a ball for five months since injuring knee ligaments in January.

He is part of Ghana's provisional list and hints that he could play in a friendly before the tournament starts.

"I have to keep working hard to be fit and I can assure you I am doing that," Essien said on Ghanasoccernet.com.

"Once I am fit I hope to feature in at least one trial match before the World Cup starts.

"I haven't played since January as you well know so I will need games before the real thing starts.

"Even if I don't get any trial games, as long I am declared fit by the medical team then I will be in South Africa for sure."

This means he could play in the Black Stars last friendly against Latvia in Milton Keynes on 5 June before the World Cup starts on 11 June.

Despite his optimism, there are fears that he could miss the tournament in South Africa because of his slow recovery from the injury.

Essien's last run-out in a Chelsea shirt was against Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League in December.

Having recovered from his hamstring tear, he then hurt his knee at the Africa Cup of Nations, but that was only expected to keep him out for six weeks.

It was anticipated he would make his Chelsea comeback in the Champions League game against Inter Milan last month, but his knee continued to swell up and he underwent four lots of surgery inside a fortnight.

Essien is central to Ghana's hopes in South Africa as they face Serbia, Australia and Germany in Group D.

Kevin Prince-Boateng Apologises To Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has issued a public apology to Chelsea star Michael Ballack after his tackle in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley ruled the veteran out of Germany's World Cup squad.

Boateng, who is the half-brother of German international Jerome Boateng but will line up for Group D rivals Ghana at this summer's World Cup, insists that there was no malicious intent in the challenge.

"All I can do is apologise," the Pompey man told Sport Bild.

"I was just too late and I hit him straight on. It looked stupid. I apologized to him twice on the field and now for a third time.

"I am sorry. It was not intentional."

Chelsea Step Aside To Leave Manchester United And Manchester City To Battle For James Milner's Signature

Manchester United and Manchester City are locked in a cross-town race to seal the £24 million signing of Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, according to the Daily Star.

The report states the bitter rivals have been left alone to scrap for the England international's signature after Chelsea pulled out of the race. City are already rumoured to have bid £20 million.

Villa chairman Randy Lerner has already dismissed any talk of a move and has insisted the Midlanders are determined to keep hold of the prospect. The 24-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season last term as his 12 goals in all competitions saw him become an England squad regular and the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side can offer Champions League football, while Roberto Mancini's charges only qualified for the Europa Cup along with Villa. However, their superior financial power could still tip the balance in the favour of the Blue half of Manchester.

Chelsea Track Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun To Replace Outgoing Joe Cole

Chelsea appear resigned to losing Joe Cole in the summer but are lining up Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun as a replacement, according to a report by ESPNsoccernet.

Cole has not yet come to an agreement with the Blues over a new deal, with his current contract set to expire, and the Israeli has been lined up to fill the Cole-shaped hole in at Stamford Bridge next season.

A Stamford Bridge insider told Soccernet: "There is no doubt that Yossi Benayoun is highly thought of at the club, and it wouldn't surprise me if he came to Chelsea."

Cole recently said he was not thinking about his Chelsea future until after the World Cup, putting his England chances ahead of any new deal in west London, but it appears the Blues are one step ahead with their interest in Benayoun.

After a season mostly blighted by injury it's no surprise Cole is way down the Castrol Rankings. He comes in at No.1126, making him only the 16th best Chelsea player in the listings.

Michael Ballack Considering Legal Action Against Kevin-Prince Boateng

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng might have offered his apologies to Chelsea's Michael Ballack for his reckless challenge during the FA Cup final, but that's clearly not enough to satisfy Michael Becker, the German international's agent.

"Every spectator has seen what Boateng did. That was clearly a foul with the intention to hurt Ballack. We are considering taking legal action," said Becker to Bild.

"We are thinking about taking the case to civil court, but criminal punishment is also an option. You can't just intentionally break the rules to hurt your opponent. It's not like a football field is a place where the law doesn't count, unlike what Boateng thinks."

Ballack's agent claims that the influential midfielder could miss out on about €1 million on income from sponsors and bonuses due to his two-month absence as a result of Boateng's reckless tackle.

Lampard: Negatives Into Positives

Frank Lampard believes our exit from the Champions League could have been the turning point for our Double-winning season.

After Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge left the Blues without a place in Europe, many insisted the side would finish the campaign trophy-less.

But Lampard feels it was the ignition to our season's final few months, as we knuckled down in the business end of the campaign.

'Looking back at that moment, it is probably one of those negatives you turn into a positive,' explained Lampard.

'Maybe if we hadn't lost that game we wouldn't have gone on to win the League.

'And we set the bench mark doing it. We won the League and having not done it for three years now we want to go away, come back and do it again.'

With the Double achieved, there was another point Lampard was keen to make as he looked back on such a successful season.

Carlo Ancelotti's first foray into English football has produced phenomenal results, which are now for all to see in our trophy cabinet.

Any manager who produces such an historic outcome during his first season at a club will obviously be revered and respected in their profession.

But the Italian was overlooked for Manager of the Year, an accolade that instead fell to Harry Redknapp, another manager who moved to a new club but one who had years of experience in the Barclays Premier League.

Lampard feels the situation could have been different: 'People always say Chelsea is a great squad with great players and they expect us to do well.

'That's why the likes of Harry Redknapp win Manager of the Year because people don't quite expect them to do so well but you can't take anything away from Ancelotti what he has done.

'He's up there with the best of the year. He has come here, to a foreign country, he came virtually alone, with only one person from Italy and he has done all this.

'You have to hold your hands up and say it's a success and a job well done. No one can question what we've done this year.'

Now the challenge is for a Chelsea side, who will have seen many of our stars out on international duty during the World Cup, to return fully vitalised for the 2010/11 campaign.

'You want to embrace what you have done at the club and you want to start again,' said Lampard.

'The players have to come back energised, with the same mentality, want to win again, and that's what separates the great teams from the good teams.'

But for now Lampard and his England teammates are concentrating solely on the world's biggest competition in South Africa this summer. And after such a fantastic run-in with the Blues over the last couple of months, Lampard is ready for anything.

'I feel fresh, I feel confident and in the last few months, with the team I am playing with, I have been creating a lot of chances.

'I am seeing a lot of spaces at the moment and I am not scared to take things on, so let's just hope it carries on for the next month or so.

'The goals have been coming thick and fast and I feel very confident, so I will take that mindset into the World Cup.

'Then there's Ashley Cole, who has been out but he's back and firing, John Terry is John Terry, determined to play well, and hopefully Joe Cole's lack of minutes will be a good thing because he will be fresh.'

Carlo Ancelotti Eyes 10-Year Stay At Chelsea

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti last night praised his side’s Double glory and told supporters he intends to stay for a decade.

The Italian boss spent eight years at AC Milan, and has now stated he plans to better that at Stamford Bridge. In his first season in England, he lifted the Premier League and FA Cup double for the first time in Chelsea's history.

Speaking to reporters, Ancelotti said: "I would be happy to sign a new contract here.

“After this first season if they asked me how long I want to stay here I would say maybe 10 years. That wouldn’t be bad, especially if every season is like this season.

“I think stability is important. If we can work together for a long time it’s better to have stability for the club.

“It’s also important for the manager, because it’s not easy if you’re changing club every year.”

During Roman Abramovich's time in charge at Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink have all bossed the club.

New chief executive Ron Gourlay has admitted the Blues want to see an end to the managerial revolving doors. There are currently no plans to offer Ancelotti a new contract just 12 months into his three-year deal, however.

John Terry Keen For Joe Cole To Stay At Stamford Bridge Next Season

Chelsea captain John Terry has urged the club to extend midfielder Joe Cole’s contract beyond the end of this season.

The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and looks set to leave the club on a free transfer, with Manchester United and Manchester City rumoured to be interested in the England international.

Cole refused to comment on his future after Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final win over Portsmouth, but Terry insists everybody at Stamford Bridge wants him to stay.

"Nobody wants Joe Cole to leave, we all want him to stay and we're confident he will do," Terry told Sky Sports.

Chelsea’s FA Cup final win secured the club’s first ever double, having already won the Premier League, and Terry is delighted to have made history this season.

He added: "[The Champions League] is the one that's eluded us in the last few years so that's the big target.

"We know that Roman [Abramovich] wants that, we know the players want that. This is just a taste of that, if we won that it would put us right up there with the greats.

"But we said yesterday in the dressing room, we'll take the double over the Champions League all day long.

"It's never been done in the club's history and we're so proud that this group of players, for generations and generations, is never going to be forgotten."

Michael Ballack Waits On Chelsea Talks About New Contract

Michael Ballack has admitted no talks are planned with Chelsea to sign a new contract, although he believes Carlo Ancelotti wants to keep him at the club.

The German international's deal expires at the end of June and discussions over an extension had been delayed until the season was over. Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 has been linked with a free transfer swoop for him.

Ballack joined from Bayern Munich in 2006 and lifted his first Premier League title this month. Speaking to reporters, the midfielder said he believed Ancelotti was keen to re-sign him but wasn't sure of the rest of the Blues hierarchy’s intentions.

"There are no plans for talks yet, but I want to play for as long as possible at the highest level," said Ballack.

"I feel fit and I have targets in my mind - maybe two years [more]. But we have to wait and see.

"Chelsea is one of my first options, of course. I know he (Ancelotti) wants to keep me.

"I have a great relationship with him and he is really confident in me and my ability.

"But sometimes the club and the coach can have different ideas, I don't know. But it's time to talk about [it]."

Malouda - Anelka Keen To Stay

Florent Malouda believes Nicolas Anelka would have no hesitation in signing a new contract at Chelsea.

The French forward is yet to pen an extension to his current terms, fuelling speculation that he could be on the move this summer.

The 31-year-old has spent the last two seasons at Stamford Bridge, helping the Blues to two FA Cup triumphs and a Premier League title.

Chelsea insist they are keen to keep Anelka on board and talks regarding a new contract remain ongoing.

Malouda feels it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached, with the tricky winger of the opinion that his fellow countryman has no desire to move on.

"I know that he wishes to stay and extend his contract," said Malouda.

"Now it's just a straight discussion between him and the club but I know there have been discussions between them.

"Things are very good for him. During the transfer window there is always speculation but there is no doubt."

Malouda sees no reason why any player would want to leave Chelsea right now, with the Blues having wrapped up a domestic Double on Saturday when they edged out Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

The aim now is to build on that success next season, with a first UEFA Champions League crown towards the top of their list of priorities.

"In a team like Chelsea you want to win everything," said Malouda.

"Our ambition has to grow and we have to be regularly on top of the league. If you stay too relaxed that's when you start to fall down.

"We will come back with more appetite and next year we should try to add something.

"We have the quality to do that, you just have to see the amount of goals we scored, but we may have to be more consistent. There were moments where we dropped points.

"I don't know how many changes are required, that's not my role. The manager has a lot of experience and knows what was missing from us this season and what will bring something more."

Real Madrid Warned Off Lampard

Real Madrid have been warned off trying to sign Frank Lampard by Carlo Ancelotti, according to reports in today's papers.

The Chelsea star is known to be a favourite of former Blues boss Jose Mourinho who is widely expected to take over as Real boss this summer.

Mourinho is rumoured to have told Real president Florentino Perez to bring Lampard to the Bernabeu ready for next season.

But Stamford Bridge boss Ancelotti has laughed off the rumours. He said: "Lampard to Real Madrid? This is a joke because Lampard will stay here.

"When I started last season there was a problem with John Terry and Manchester City.

"Every time I said 'no, John Terry will stay here because he is important'.

"I don't want to do the same with Frank Lampard. He will stay here.

"There is no danger of Frank going because I know how he feels about this club, with these players, how important he is for the supporters."

John Terry Targets The Treble Next Season

John Terry has set his sights on winning the treble next season - after taking a massive swipe at the Wembley pitch.

Terry says Chelsea will be determined to win the Champions League as well as repeating this season's Premier League and FA Cup Double next year.

But Terry slammed the Wembley pitch and says it must be improved as next year's Champions League final will be played there as he also urged the Football Association to stop holding concerts and start putting football first.

Chelsea captain Terry said: "The Champions League next year is here - that would be a great way to end the year. I only hope the pitch is all right - at least they have got enough time.

"It probably ruined the game as a spectacle. It is not the groundsman's fault - there are just too many events on the field of play. The FA need to say either this is England's football stadium or its an event stadium.

"Portsmouth and ourselves have worked so hard to get here and it was not good enough. There was no water on the surface, which both teams asked for, before the game. It was patchy. It was dry and it was probably too slow for the people watching.

"Now we come back here with England and we want home advantage to count. It needs to be addressed and I am sure it will be."

Mirror Sport revealed on Saturday both teams were unhappy at the state of the pitch after their training session at Wembley the day before.

But Chelsea overcame the problems with the pitch to win the FA Cup and repeat their first ever double - and Terry has immediately insisted that is the bare minimum they want to achieve next season.

Terry firmly believes Carlo Ancelotti can sweep the board next season and win the lot and also says their momentum can help England go into the World Cup full of confidence.

Terry added: "The Double really does put us up there as a football club. There is no doubt about it - everybody knows the importance of the Champions League.

"It is something we want. But if you had offered me the Double at the start of the season, I would have bitten your hand off.

"It is hard to set new targets - the minimum next year now is the Premier League and the FA Cup. If we can add the Champions League to that and the Carling Cup, it would be great.

"But the minimum is the Premier League and the FA Cup. Everyone is saying that, including the manager. These are our trophies and we want to keep them.

"We have had a taste of winning the FA Cup and the Premier League and not been able to retain it and get our hands back on it the following season. Now it would be a great way to end next year as well.

"It would great if we could carry this momentum into the England camp. We are on a high. We are buzzing. We are fit.

"We have got a couple of days off but we go there and look forward to training and getting back on the training field for the World Cup."