Drogba Eyes Record Breaking Quadruple Success

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has set his sights on an unprecedented quadruple clean sweep of the game's biggest trophies this season.

Drogba, 32, has played a key role as the Blues have begun the defence of their Premier League crown in dominant form. Despite also lifting the FA Cup in manager Carlo Ancelotti's debut campaign, the failures in the Champions League and League Cup led to disappointment.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Ivory Coast international was determined to help his club battle on all fronts.

"It's very difficult, this is a very difficult thing to achieve," Drogba said.

"Why not? If we do it it will be an amazing season. I think to keep the title will be difficult, even if people see us as one of the best teams with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

"But it will be difficult this season. That's why we're here - we want to prove we are the champions and we want to keep the Premier League trophy."

John Terry Looking Forward To Seeing Youngsters In League Cup Action

Chelsea skipper John Terry has urged the youngsters on League Cup duty to grab the opportunity and increase the competition for first team places.

The Blues face Newcastle United on Wednesday night in the third round tie and manager Carlo Ancelotti has promised changes. The Italian's decision should see Patrick van Aanholt, Jeffrey Bruma, Daniel Sturridge and Gael Kakuta introduced to the fray.

Terry is sure the mix of young and old players could bolster the club's bid for silverware in all competitions.

"We have a great squad of players mixed with some very good young players who are making their mark on the team," Terry was quoted as saying by skysports.com.

"These opportunities are not only great for them but also for our youth system and credit goes to everyone working hard in the academy.

"The manager has spoken about the importance of strength in our squad this season and competition for places is always a good thing."

Michael Essien Disappointed With Milovan Rajevac's Recent Decision To Part Company With Ghana

Ghana and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has told Citi FM he was disappointing with Milovan Rajevac's decision to abandon the Black Stars job.

The midfield general, who is tipped to stage a comeback to international duty early next year, said he is confident that the Ghana FA can find a suitable successor.

“It’s very sad for me to hear that the coach has left but straight up these things happen,” the Chelsea ace said.

“I will leave everything for the FA to appoint a new coach. They will look around and choose the right person for the team.”

Asked about his recent goal scoring heroics, he said, “I have no secret; I just try to give my best when I am on the field.”

Drogba Hits Out At Chelsea's Doubters

Didier Drogba says he is in confident mood as Chelsea prepare for a potentially tough test against Manchester City.

After disposing of West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool with a glut of goals, Chelsea faces a more realistic assessment of their title credentials when they head to Eastlands on Saturday.

However, Chelsea won six out of six against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool last season, and Drogba is in confident mood.

Speaking at the London Soccer Dome, he told the Daily Express: "I don't think we have had an easy start. People say that because we won all our games, but those games were not easy. At Wigan we struggled in the first half but managed to turn it around.

"City will be a good test to see if we can deal with better opposition. After that it is Arsenal - another big one - so it's a crucial period.

Turnbull's Test

Ross Turnbull prepares for a first start of the season on Wednesday against the side he supported as a boy.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper grew up in Durham, and was a huge Newcastle United fan before turning professional with their local rivals Middlesbrough.

'A lot of my family were supporters too and we had season tickets when we were younger so I'll be looking forward to the game,' Turnbull said. 'Everyone likes to play against their boyhood team, so I'm looking forward to it.

'My hero was Alan Shearer up there, like everyone else! He was the legend, but they had some great keepers, Pavel Srnicek, Shaka Hislop and Shay Given so it was great to watch them.

'Family and friends have been asking if I'm playing and it's really something to anticipate. It's one I think I'll enjoy, and it's one we want to win, we want to progress in the competition and ultimately win it.'

We have a strong recent history in the Carling Cup with victories in 2005 and 2007, as well as a Final defeat to Tottenham in 2008, but we have been eliminated early in the past two seasons and it is something the squad wants to address.

In order to progress we will need to beat a Magpies side which has impressed since returning to the top flight this season.

'They seem to have done fine since they've been back up in the Premier League,' Turnbull assessed. 'I look for their results but my interest doesn't go much further than that anymore, and I'm sure they will have a good season.'

The goalkeeper's attentions have been more on his own game, and he is delighted to get the chance to impress at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with Petr Cech rested and Hilario injured.

'I am enjoying training, I work hard with the other goalkeepers and this is a chance for me to play so hopefully I can show people what I can do. Everyone wants to play football and it's a good chance for me to play well', he said.

'I'm not sure what the manager plans to do with the Carling Cup side, last year Big Pete was rested but whether that continues I don't know, it is his decision and I'll go along with it but from a personal point of view I'd obviously like to continue if we get through.'

Ancelottti Owes Chelsea's Great Start To Zinedine Zidane

Chelsea's excellent start to the season owes a debt of gratitude to Zinedine Zidane, and a lesson he taught manager Carlo Ancelotti a decade ago.

Chelsea have taken to the defence of their Premier League title with an indecent appetite for goals, 21 so far from just five games following Sunday's 4-0 victory over Blackpool The rich vein of form being tapped at the moment by Chelsea's fluent attacking play is the sum total of Ancelotti's 17 years of experience as a player and 15 as a coach.

One of the most important lessons Ancelotti learned was during his time at Juventus, when he was given the responsibility of teasing the best out of Zidane, a player that Ancelotti describes as the finest he has ever had under his charge.

Ancelotti found that the only way he could do it was to ditch his preconceived ideas about tactics and systems and adopt a more pragmatic formation that would provide Zidane with a stage on which to demonstrate the full extent of his genius.

“Before, when I started to train, I had an identity which I put on my teams,” Ancelotti said.

“I didn't look at the characteristics of my players. I wanted to play 4-4-2 for the first two years. After that, I changed my ideas.

“It changed at Juventus — Zidane didn't want to play on the left, but in the centre, so I changed my formation for my players. I changed characteristics. There is not a winning shape: you can play 4-4-2, 4-3-1-2. There is no shape guaranteed to win.

“Now I look at the skills and characteristics of my players and put the right shape in the team for these players.”

Ancelotti has brought that flexibility with him to Chelsea. He started out by imposing the diamond midfield formation that had brought him two Champions League crowns at Milan. It worked well and Chelsea led the division, but he recognized the potential for something more creative and realized a return to the 4-3-3 system that had been introduced by Jose Mourinho five years earlier might better suit the players at the club.

It is worth pointing out that Mourinho himself stumbled upon the formation during his first season in charge, as he too had begun his reign favouring a 4-4-2 system.

The great difference between Mourinho's 4-3-3 and Ancelotti's is that under the Italian the attacking trio have been given the license to play off the cuff, to play with instinct and invention, to create the kind of unpredictable football against which it is nigh on impossible to defend.

“We use possession more and more attacking play. In the past, Chelsea played a different way,” Ancelotti said. “When we attack, my idea is to give the players some information, but they have to use their skill, mentality and personality. They have free play for the players in front. Defensively, it's different. They need discipline.”

Chelsea have no player in quite the same league as Zidane, but as a team they are playing with a collective wit and verve that is proving too much for every team they have encountered so far this season. This weekend's trip to Manchester City, followed by a home game with Arsenal, is very different propositions, and Chelsea may well adapt their tactics accordingly.

However, the spontaneity and relish with which they have begun the season suggests they will be itching to score a hatful past their more illustrious opponents too.

Florent Malouda Convinced Chelsea Will Prove Premier League Title Credentials

Florent Malouda has declared Chelsea are ready to prove their Premier League title winning credentials by beating Manchester City and Arsenal.

The Blues have made short work of lesser lights West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, West Ham United and Blackpool in the early weeks of the season. The quality of opposition has led some critics to deminish the achievement, with sterner tests against the two high-flyers lined up.

However, the France international insists everyone will see the strength of Carlo Ancelotti's side in the next fortnight.

"People don't believe what we have done up until now has been that great because they say we have had easy games," he said. "This will show we're ready for any kind of opposition.

"A lot of people see these two games as a test but we're ready. For us it could be our opportunity to prove that we're champions and we will defend our title at any price. Both will be tough opponents but we have confidence in ourselves and the way we are working.

"We're trying to improve on what we did last season. We didn't come back thinking we are champions so it will be easy. We know there is going to be pressure but we have experienced players who are ready to handle that. We're much better under pressure so now we just have to stay calm.

"Manchester City was the only team to do the double over us last season and that could be a big motivation for us. I know they're getting better and bought a lot of good players.

"There will be a big atmosphere and their players will be waiting for that game. Maybe it is a way for their team to show they're ready to challenge for the title so we are going there to defend our title. Last year was difficult for us but we'll go there to try and get the points.

"We're aware that the season is long and you don't win anything in September. We have to carry on and keep our focus.

"I know it's going to be tight until the end of the season and when the other teams drop points we must try to take the opportunity. We're ready to succeed, that's why in training we work very hard.

"We are using our experience of last year and know nothing is easy. We won the League by one point on the last day so we're preparing for the same situation this season.

"There are always compliments when you win and scoring lots of goals but if you lose balance you can always have a bit of a surprise."

The Sky Is The Limit

Graeme Le Saux believes there is no limit to what Chelsea can achieve this season.

Carlo Ancelotti's men have made the best start to a Premier League campaign, winning their first five games and racking up a goal difference of +20 in the process.

It has led to suggestions that they can repeat Arsenal's invincible season of 2003-04 and although Le Saux did not go that far, the former Chelsea full-back admitted anything is possible.

"They have started the season fantastically and their goal difference is incredible," he told Sky Sports News HD. "They looked like they've got a settled side and a fantastic manager as well - it couldn't have been a better start for them.

"The big test will come at the weekend against Manchester City but I feel quite confident, the way they are playing, on a big pitch as Eastlands is that they can go there, play as well as they have been and keep their form going.

"But I think the biggest issue will be to keep the focus and not feel that, come Christmas, that they have peaked too soon. It's important to have a good start but maintaining that through to Christmas is crucial.

"But with the squad they've got, the sky is really the limit."

Much has been made of the way the current Chelsea side are now cutting loose and really putting sides to the sword.

Under Jose Mourinho they were renowned for getting ahead in games and then closing them out. But 33 goals in their last 13 Premier League games - and only one defeat - is starting to win the cynics over.

And Le Saux, who made 280 appearances in two spells at Stamford Bridge says that is down to Carlo Ancelotti, who has transformed the atmosphere around the club.

"It's a different approach," he said. "Certainly you've got to give Jose Mourinho a huge amount of credit for what he achieved at the club but at the same time he had a style which he played in, and Carlo Ancelotti has really invigorated the team.

"He has given them a lot more freedom to express in forward areas and they've still got a very good backbone as they have had for many years.

"The way he has got players like (Florent) Malouda and Salomon (Kalou) creating so much, plus the players he has added means they are a well-balanced and well-blended team.

"When you have such a good start to the season you have to keep that focus in every game you play. But Carlo Ancelotti has such a relaxed and consistent attitude - I've seen it at the training ground the atmosphere he's created - that it will be a case of business as usual."

John Terry And Wayne Bridge Doing Battle Again

Alleged love rivals John Terry and Wayne Bridge have found another arena in which to do battle. Although this time it's not for the affections of lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel, but rather supremacy in Call of Duty computer warfare.

According to a major national newspaper, the two men - who had a very public falling-out after allegations Terry had an affair with Bridge's ex Perroncel - are now competing on the popular Xbox 360 game.

A team of City players are said to regularly take on their Chelsea rivals in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

And as well as Terry on the opposite side to Bridge, the City full-back has another of his arch rivals to contend with - Ashley Cole.

The two men - also former Blues team-mates - were former rivals for the England left-back slot until Bridge retired from international football over reports of the Terry-Perroncel affair.

And again it appears they are both leaders in their fields as the sharpest shooters in Call of Duty from their respective clubs.

Cole leads a gaming line-up that is said to include Terry as well as star midfielders Florent Malouda and Michael Essien, and striker Didier Drogba.

As well as Bridge, City's Call of Duty stars boast internationals Shaun Wright-Phillips, Carlos Tevez, and Micah Richards among them.

According to the newspaper, the players 'take the game really seriously' and 'communicate through their headsets and discuss battle plans'.

Ricardo Carvalho: It's Harder To Play For Chelsea Than Real Madrid

The only missing trophy on Ricardo Carvalho's CV at Chelsea was a Champions League medal. The 32-year-old defender left the club this summer after six years, and in doing so has once again reunited himself with Jose Mourinho, the man who brought him to Stamford Bridge in 2004.

But while Spain's Primera Division is touted as being the best in the world, with superstars such as Leo Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo flaunting their talent, and while Spain may be the world champions, Carvalho reckons it doesn't compare to playing in England.

"When I went to Chelsea it was much more difficult for me than coming here," Carvalho told Goal.com exclusively. "I grew up in Portugal and football there is very similar to the football here in Spain. I think it is a lot harder to play in the Premier League. Players are physically much stronger in England. In that sense, it is harder to play for Chelsea than for Real Madrid. And playing there is what has really improved me as a player. I had six very happy years at Chelsea."

That's hardly surprising, given that in that time Carvalho won three FA Cups, three league titles and reached a Champions League final that Chelsea narrowly lost on penalties. But for all the success, Carvalho decided to call time on his stay at Stamford Bridge in order to rejoin Mourinho and be a part of his revolution at the Bernabeu.

"I had an agreement with Chelsea," he added. "It was written in my contract that if after five years another big club came in for me then they would release me if I wanted to leave. And I was ready to go. I spent six years at Chelsea and I left with some great memories."

The football in England may be much tougher but there are different expectations playing for a club like Real Madrid. Carvalho, who has started in every game so far, including the midweek defeat of Ajax in the Champions League, feels that the fans don't get behind their team as they do in the Premier League.

"The pressure on the players is higher here," he said. "For example if you don't play very well the Real fans will quickly start booing you. I guess you just have to learn to accept that. If you don't play well and the crowd starts booing, then you just have to start running more and try to play better!"

And Carvalho is happy enough to once again be playing under his mentor Mourinho. The Portuguese defender has been with his boss at Porto, where they won the Champions league together in 2004, at Chelsea and now at Real Madrid. If anyone knows Mourinho well then it is Carvalho, and he doesn't feel that the manager's adventures in Italy with Inter have changed him too much.

"No, not really," he said. "Jose just has his own style and his own way and that remains. Yeah sure, he has a changed a little of course, but for me he is still the same person and the same coach."

That tends to suggest that Mourinho still very much likes to be his own man. Whether that will work for him or against him at Real Madrid only time will tell. But the impression the 'Special One' left at Chelsea has taken until Carlo Ancelotti to be wiped away.

In the interim, a slew of managers have come and gone, including big star names such as Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink. And Carvalho doesn't hide away from the fact that Scolari's appointment was a disaster as far as the players were concerned.

He said: "Two seasons ago we had some great problems. Scolari came in for five months and then Hiddink was there till the end of the season. It was a bad time for the team. There was no connection between the players the coaching staff and the management [under Scolari]. But that has all changed now and there is much more togetherness. And that makes it much easier."

However, Carvalho feels that the one person who was unfairly dealt a blow in the post-Mourinho transition was Avram Grant. The Portuguese defender feels that the Israeli coach deserved a lot more credit than he was given for his time in charge.

"You know he did a good job for the club," he said. "He took us to the Champions league final and we could have won it. And with him we fought till the last match in the league. And all this straight after Mourinho."

But that is all in the past now as Carvalho sees a stronger Chelsea under the calming influence of Carlo Ancelotti, as last season's double proved. And he is not at all surprised at how well the Londoners have started the new season.

He said: "Chelsea have some absolutely great players. They are tough and they are physically strong. They will be a challenge for the league and also for us in the Champions League. "

How ironic then, if at the end of the season it is Carvalho's former club which prevents him from winning a second Champions League medal, and deny Real Madrid that elusive tenth title in the process.

Home And Away: Ramires

The new boy in Chelsea's midfield has been adjusting quickly to life in west London and the Premier League.

HOME

How do things work at Cobham for you?
Talking wise I talk to a lot of the Portuguese speaking players, and in the dressing room I sit next to Daniel Sturridge and Jeffrey Bruma, they are both very calm and tranquil.

Which of your team-mates impressed you this weekend?
The whole team was impressive, but when I try to watch a game I try to focus on the players in my position so that I can learn more and see how they work on the pitch. Lately I have been very impressed with Essien, Mikel and Lampard.

What did you notice about your first match at Stamford Bridge?
To play every game in a stadium like that is a motivation, I was so impressed with the fans supporting their teams.

What's the most memorable dressing down you've experienced at half-time?
When I arrived at Cruzeiro, my team in Brazil before Benfica, it was only one week and things hadn't been going well. The assistant manager decided to have a meeting, and everyone was told off, with lots of shouting!

What is 'home' for you?
When I think of this word I think of family, friends and holidays, anywhere where you have people that care for you. Whether you are performing or not you always have these people beside you.

How is the search for a home?
I found an apartment in London already, and I will be near to Alex.

AWAY

Which other sports do you like watching on TV?
Tennis and golf, though I don't understand it very well but I am watching and learning a bit more.

Any famous friends outside of football?
No, I don't think so.

How much of London have you seen so far?
On my first day off I did a tour to see all the main attractions. Not on a big bus no! I was in a van and the driver drove me around, and let me out at places, so I saw Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

What is your favourite place to escape from it all?
I like to be at home with my wife and my baby boy, who is five months old.

Pat Nevin: Peak Power

Another game another stellar performance, this time against Blackpool at the weekend. Well it certainly was in the first half anyway and even the second period could have and should have produced a few more goals. Just like West Ham the week before and even against Zilina, there was a degree of energy conservation when the game was well out of the opposition's reach long before the full 90-odd minutes were played.

Last week from me there was a thought that our Didier wasn't absolutely firing on all cylinders in the East End, even if he did create two goals. This week I make no apology in talking about our star striker again, this time in total and absolutely glowing terms. There were points in the Blackpool game when you actually began to feel a bit sorry for their defenders, after all there were usually only two or three marking him most of the time and that clearly wasn't nearly enough on the day.

Obviously there was his goal, but there were plenty of other moments that beggared belief. Just think of two, the time he flicked the ball over his opponents in the box only to be denied by the keeper's legs and then the scissors kick pass down at the Shed End which was wonderfully inventive and almost perfectly executed. He was on the day unplayable to all intents and purposes.

The goals scored and assists stats already this season are phenomenal from a player who is absolutely at the top of his game when he is in the mood, which is most of the time at the moment. It immediately begged the question, is there anyone even close to him as the best striker in the world right at this moment?

Well the weekend at least made the debate interesting because there were some fine displays on show in the Premier League. Fernando Torres has finally begun to look like he might be getting back some of the fantastic form he has shown in the past few years after a quieter period. I feel he lost a bit of pace when he injured his hamstring, but the explosiveness looks like it is not gone forever after all.

There was also a quite superb hat trick from Dimitar Berbatov for Manchester United that any striker would be delighted to score, even if it was just in training. With Rooney not quite back to his best and the Bulgarian under pressure to deliver, he has looked very impressive this season. That said, I do not think there are many in the game who could hand on heart say that any of these players is hitting the heights that Drogba is on such a consistent basis.

There was a joy and a freedom about the Ivorian's outlook on Saturday that said loud and clear that he is at the peak of his powers. If he steers clear of injury and he remains just as happy then sit back and enjoy watching one of the finest strikers of not only his, but of any generation. Maybe the little rest from the jaunt to Slovakia sharpened him up and amazingly Chelsea are probably in a position to give him a rest now and again. On Saturday, Lampard, Terry and Anelka were all missing and I struggled to see that this made the team considerable weaker. What other squad could say that of such quality players? Answer none, I suspect.

So Wednesday sees Newcastle visit the Bridge, with I would imagine at least some trepidation. They will be hoping that Carlo does a Fergie and drops about ten players for this one and I for one wouldn't complain if he did. This campaign has to be managed if it is going to get close to last season's dizzying heights.

As I sat in the press box at Old Trafford last week and listened to the groans of the United faithful as the team v Rangers in the Champions League was read out, I understood the disappointment. If you have forked out a lot of money to see your team, maybe travelled a long way (apparently many United fans have to for home games), then it is galling to see Smalling instead of Rio or Hernandez instead of Berbatov. The good thing for Chelsea fans is that if the likes of Drogba, Lampard and Ashley Cole are missing then Anelka, Malouda and Zhirkov are far from disappointing substitutes; right at this moment I still reckon it would be well worth the admission fee.

Match Report: Chelsea 4 - 0 Blackpool

Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a comfortable victory over new boys Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea destroyed Ian Holloway's side with four first-half goals - two from Florent Malouda and others from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba.

Blackpool improved in the second half and Branislav Ivanovic had to clear off the line from DJ Campbell while substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher brought a fine save from Petr Cech.

It took just two minutes for Chelsea to take the lead when Drogba's corner was flicked on by Branislav Ivanovic and Kalou supplied the finish at the far post.

It was the Ivory Coast striker's fourth league goal of the season and Chelsea's 22nd in total so far this season.

Michael Essien almost made it two in the seventh minute but the midfielder's 20-yard shot was too high.

But Chelsea doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Kalou put Drogba clear of the Blackpool defence.

Instead of having a shot himself, Kalou's international team-mate chose to cross superbly for the unmarked Malouda to fire home his fifth goal of the season.

Branislav Ivanovic almost made it three seconds later but his header from a Malouda corner fell just wide of the upright.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was forced into his first save of the game in the 16th minute when he tipped a shot from Alex Baptiste around the post.

Chelsea made it 3-0 on the half-hour when Ashley Cole fed Drogba and the Ivory Coast striker's shot on the turn was deflected past Matthew Gilks. It was Drogba's fifth of the season.

Chelsea were now in rampant form and only some poor decision-making from Cole prevented Blackpool from falling further behind.

The England left-back should have made it four to the home side seconds after Drogba's goal but his cross-shot went wide of the far post.

In the 38th minute another Chelsea attack almost brought yet another goal.

Paulo Ferreira headed the ball into space for Kalou to collect but his cross was smashed wide by Malouda.

Another simple Chelsea move sliced Blackpool open in the 41st minute to make it 4-0 to the champions.

Drogba's ball over the top to Kalou was inch-perfect and he crossed for Malouda to fire into the bottom corner.

Gilks then thwarted Drogba in the 44th minute as the Chelsea forward looked to make it five.

Blackpool almost reduced the arrears in the 49th minute when DJ Campbell rounded Petr Cech but Ivanovic cleared the ball off the goal-line.

Moments later Luke Varney squandered a chance for the visitors when he volleyed over from eight yards.

Chelsea had lost the initiative and a 20-yard shot from Varney was deflected just over the bar as the visitors, for once, enjoyed the upper hand.

On the hour, substitute Gary Taylor-Fletcher brought a fine save from Cech with a curling shot which was going in until the Czech Republic international tipped it over the bar.

Seconds later Holloway removed Elliott Grandin and Varney and replaced them with Brett Ormerod and Marlon Harewood.

But Chelsea squandered a chance to go five in front in the 63rd minute when Drogba put Kalou in the clear but a poor touch allowed Gilks to save his eventual shot.

Moments later a cross from Drogba was met by Malouda but the France international's far-post volley was tipped over by Gilks.

In the 66th minute, Malouda spurned another hat-trick chance by firing wide of the left-hand upright.

Essien sent a rising shot over the crossbar 10 minutes from time and Drogba did the same four minutes from time.

Didier Drogba Wanted More Goals Against Blackpool

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has praised his side after a 4-0 rout of Blackpool maintained the Blues' perfect start to the season.

Despite creating a host of chances in the second half, all the goals were scored in a first-half blitz thanks to strikes from Salomon Kalou, Drogba and a Florent Malouda brace, but Drogba believes more goals could have been scored.

"It's fantastic you know I think we have improved and we try and score the most goals we can and we scored four in the first half and I think in the second we had seven chances," Drogba told Sky Sports after the game.

"I think it was a little bit of a lack of concentration [to not score more], poor position on the last pass, so this is something we have to think about even though we had a great result today."

With both captain John Terry and vice-captain Frank Lampard missing through injury, the armband was given to Drogba for the match and the Ivorian claims it was an honour to be captain whilst hoping his team-mates can get back to fitness quickly.

"It's fantastic you know, I've been here for six years. But it's always better to have them [Terry and Lampard] out on the pitch. I want them to come back quickly but it was an honour and pleasure for me to be captain today," he concluded.

Juventus & Chelsea Set To Lose Race For Sevilla Winger Jesus Navas

Juventus and Chelsea could be out of the race to sign Sevilla winger Jesus Navas, as Arsenal are reportedly in pole position for the 24-year-old.

The Bianconeri were interested in Navas to fill the right-wing position, as the side believes it requires further strength.

Los Nervionenses have put a €25 million price-tag on the talented player, and the Gunners seem to be the most interested in the winger.

Itasportpress.it also claim that the Gunners and Navas have agreed to terms verbally, but more discussions will be required to finalize an official deal.

Sevilla are currently in second place in the league, on seven points from their three matches.

Chelsea Plan £9m Summer Move For German ‘Lampard'

Whilst it would be hard to imagine why Chelsea would need any new faces at Stamford Bridge given their stupendous start to the new season it does seem that Carlo Ancelotti continues to plan for the future and a move for 20 year old German international Toni Kroos would helpfully act as a useful successor to Frank Lampard’s berth in the side in years to come.

Even though there may be a tendency to think of the Bayern Munich man as a new ‘Ballack’ he is far more like Lampard in his style of play. He is acting, direct and has an eye for goal, unfortunately he appears to have little hope of breaking into the Allianz Arena picture any time soon.

Kroos had a great season last term on loan at Bayer Leverkusen but was reticent about making such a move a permanent one, the £9m rated youngster would no doubt jump at a move to the Premier League champions.

Carlo Ancelotti Anticipates 'Fantastic' Match Between Chelsea And Manchester City

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is expecting a "fantastic" match between his side and Manchester City next week.

Roberto Mancini's side beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the DW Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Chelsea were extending their 100 per cent record this season, beating Blackpool 4-0.

City got the better of Chelsea in their last outing at Stamford Bridge in a 4-2 defeat for the hosts, but Ancelotti is keen to carry on his side's unbeaten run.

"I think that next week we have important games," he told BBC Sport. "We have started very well, we wanted to do this, we are happy for this moment and we want to continue.

"Obviously Man City will be a fantastic match, we have to pay attention but we want to do our best."

Nicolas Anelka and John Terry were both rested at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but Ancelotti is expecting them both to be fit for this coming Saturday.

He said: "I think that we have a very good squad. At this moment I wanted to give a rest to Anelka, Terry had a little problem last night and we wanted to play [him], so he rested and we hope he will be fit next week."

Ancelotti also indicated he would rest a host of first team regulars for the League Cup meeting with Newcastle United in midweek.

He continued: I want to give thew chance to the younger players. We have fantastic younger players and I want to give them the opportunity to show this quality, but it will be a strong team.

Frank Lampard also sat out Sunday's victory over Blackpool and Ancelotti hinted he will not be involved against Newcastle.

He said: For Wednesday, I don't know. We hope he will be fit for Man City.

Ancelotti Urges Fringe Stars To Shine

Carlo Ancelotti is ready to utilize the depth in his Chelsea squad after they went four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackpool at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian will use the Carling Cup to blood his youngsters before welcoming back England men John Terry and Frank Lampard against Manchester City at the weekend.

Two goals from Florent Malouda and other strikes from Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba put paid to Blackpool in a sensational opening half yesterday.

But Chelsea is entering a period where they play two games per week and Ancelotti is ready to use all his resources.

"We will need to use all of our players," said Ancelotti. "The squad is so strong that we can change players to offer something different to the team or change the shape if we want to.

"We want to show, during this season, that we can adapt to any game - this can be our strength."

But victories over West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool have hardly stretched Chelsea and Ancelotti accepts their biggest test so far will come against City in the Premier League at Eastlands on Saturday.

"It is important to have confidence in our play - we have that," said Ancelotti.

"We know the next game in the league will be more difficult.

"It is an important test for us next week but it is also an important test for them. We have not played against the top teams but we are playing well. It is necessary for us to do it against the top teams."

Ancelotti confirmed that Terry and Lampard should be fit after injuries to face City but he also revealed their Carling Cup team against Newcastle on Wednesday will predominantly be filled with youngsters.

"Frank is training, he is not 100% yet," said Ancelotti. "He will be able to play against Manchester City. Terry had a problem with his ribs and was not able to play, but he should be okay in two or three days.

"We will change a lot of players for the Carling Cup because we want to use this competition for our younger players."

Reaction: Confident For Big Test Ahead

Enjoyment at the sheer spectacle of the first half against Blackpool and understanding that his team couldn't extend the 4-0 lead in the second half were the primary emotions expressed by Carlo Ancelotti after the latest win.

The visitors from the north-west coast were cut apart on numerous occasions on their return to Stamford Bridge after 14 years, and Chelsea had Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba goals and another Florent Malouda brace to show for it, but chances weren't taken second half and Blackpool had moments of their own, some spurned, some saved by Petr Cech.

Ancelotti admitted his team did take their foot off the accelerator that has been pressed firmly to the floor for much of the season.

'Blackpool had a good reaction after the first half, they made some chances to score and also we didn't play so well,' the manager said.

'After 4-0 up it was difficult to maintain concentration and stay in focus in the game, we had a lot of opportunities to score but it was not fantastic play like the first half.

'The first half was very good for us, it was a pleasure to watch my team playing like we played first half.

'But I am not angry about the second half because I know very well there are a lot of games in this period and maybe the players are looking to these next games. Maybe they lose a little bit of concentration during the game.'

Ancelotti also looked ahead to after the win that kept the team four points clear. He spoke about the midweek cup match against Newcastle and next weekend's visit to Manchester City. Some are saying it is only in that game that everyone will see if Chelsea are very good this season; pointing to a perceived easy set of fixtures so far.

'It could be that it is an easy start,' said Ancelotti. 'We didn't play against the top teams but we played very welland this is the most important thing. Now it is important to maintain the same level of play against the top teams but I think that we are able to do this.

'It is important to have confidence in our play and now we have confidence and we know very well that the next game will be more difficult. It is an important test to show the same level of play away against a fantastic team like Manchester City.'

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was fulsome in his praise of the performance that beat his side, describing Chelsea as 'light years ahead'.

'We have seen some teams underestimate us but the champions certainly didn't,' he said.

'Some of the movement they showed I hadn't seen before and that caused our players problems.

'I have seen in the flesh now how good Drogba and Essien are. I have seen some football in my life and the way Chelsea played is an absolute credit to Mr. Ancelotti and their players. Some of their moving and passing and running is phenomenal.

'The tactics I tried to adopt didn't work,' he admitted, 'but we looked much better when in the second half we played the way we normally play, which is with four strikers, and we did cause them some problems.

'I expected it to be closer but we drew the second half and at half-time, I certainly didn't think we would do that.'

Ancelotti reported that he expects Frank Lampard to be fit in time for the Man City game and John Terry, who was missing against Blackpool due to a rib injury, will be 100 per cent in two to three days.

He also reiterated his intention to make plenty of changes for Wednesday's Carling Cup game.

'I am confident I will put out a very good team because we have young players who are ready to play for us,' he explained.

Playing With Pleasure

If it looked like the players were enjoying themselves on Sunday afternoon, it is because they were.

A first-half display of attacking football to rival anything else in the world saw us race into a 4-0 half-time lead against Barclays Premier League newcomers, with a goal apiece for Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba and a pair for man of the match Florent Malouda, who explained afterwards just what a good time the lads were having.

'It was a real pleasure for us players on the pitch, and for the fans it was too. We really enjoyed it and we'll have to do it again,' said the Frenchman. 'We work hard every day in training, we have our system and shape, we have our philosophy and when you get results at the weekend it's a real pleasure.'

Captain for the day Drogba admitted we should have had more in the second half.

'We try to score the most goals we can in the game. We scored four in the first half and in the second we had so many chances, but I think it is a lack of concentration or bad decisions in the last pass. It is something we have to think about but the result was great today,' said the Ivorian, who was delighted to be asked to wear the armband in the absence of both John Terry and Frank Lampard.

'It's fantastic, I've been here for six years, this is my seventh,' the 32-year-old smiled. 'It is always better to have them on board and on the pitch, and I want them to come back quick even if it was an honour and a pleasure to be captain today.'

Malouda was also pleased to keep a clean sheet, which he believes was more important to adding to the score in the second half following on from games against West Ham and Zilina, where we conceded late consolation strikes.

'Most important was to keep the clean sheet because we couldn't do it against Zilina in the Champions League, it was important for us because we are confident up front and it is good for the defence to keep a clean sheet, so there was no disappointment in the second half,' he explained.

Next up in the league is a trip to Manchester City, which according to many will be our first big test of the new season. The players though are not so sure.

'We just want to win the league, we are not focused on Manchester City, we have to play all the teams,' Malouda responded. 'People are thinking about Man City because they don't give us credit for what we have done until now.

'We have to stay focused as we did last year, and can achieve great performances against big teams. We have a lot of games to come and we play to win every game.

'The season will be long and you don't win in September. We have to carry on and keep our focus, because we know there will be great expectation from our fans. You have to be on top at the end of May, and we're fully aware of that.'