Chelsea boss Ancelotti: World Cup nightmare will inspire my players

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his World Cup flops will be inspired to bring Champions League glory to Stamford Bridge this season.Ancelotti reckons a number of his wounded superstars have a real point to prove, after failing to shine in South Africa last month.

He said: "All my Musketeers, including Drogba, Malouda, Lampard and Terry, have played in a World Cup which has lowered their profile."If you look at all the big nations that failed, from England to Argentina, France and Brazil, the coach was trying to get the right balance between the individuals and the organisation of the team."In my first season with Chelsea, we won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield.
"But I missed out on the Champions League, so that is now my dream.

"At the moment everything here in London is good. But I know if we do not keep winning that things will soon change for me."So we must quickly rediscover the enthusiasm we had last season and same good football."

Van der Wiel priced at £20m.

The Sun are reporting that AFC Ajax have slapped a £20m price tag on Chelsea target Gregory van der Wiel. It had seemed that the Dutch full back was on his way to Bayern Munich before talks over a move broke down but Ajax will still sell the player as long as their valuation is met. Carlo Ancelotti is keen to bolster his defence ahead of the coming season and is believed to be willing to spend big to add youth to an aging squad. Ajax have already stated that players will need to be sold this Summer if they are to continue to strengthen their own roster.

Benfica’s Ramires determined to complete Chelsea deal

Benfica’s Ramires is hoping his Portuguese club will release him so he can join Chelsea.The 23 years old player had a successful season with Benfica which saw him help the club to win the Portuguese league trophy.

The Brazil international wants a dream move to the English which is likely to cost the Blues £20million if they go ahead with the transfer.

“I know there has been a bid for me from Chelsea, this is a great honour, it is like a dream come true,'' he told Soccernet. "I have dreamt of playing in the Premier League and now to have the opportunity to play for the best team in the Premier League and for a club with so much history - it would be my dream.

"I hope this can happen, and I hope that I can help Chelsea to regain the Double and also to win the Champions League next season.

"I am looking forward to playing with the likes of John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, they are amongst the best in the world, to play with players like this under a manager of the stature of Carlo Ancelotti whom I admire and respect, in a club with so much spirit and winning mentality, would be a tremendous privilege.

"In the process I would like everyone to know I had a fantastic year at Benfica, and I respect them a lot, but this is a dream that I cannot let go."

David Luiz boost for Chelsea as Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid are priced out of race for Benfica star

Jose Mourinho has cleared the path for Chelsea to sign David Luiz by signalling that the Benfica star is too expensive for Real Madrid.The Bernabeu boss made Luiz one of his primary targets when taking over from Manuel Pellegrini at the end of last season, but a spiralling price tag has put off the Spanish giants.

Mourinho has instead opened talks with AC Milan defender Thiago Silva, who has also long been a target for Chelsea. And the boss is ready to raid his former club for Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Brazil international Silva, 25, has been tipped for a £21million move to La Liga and his agent Paulo Tonietto said: 'First of all, Thiago Silva is very happy at Milan. But there is interest from Real Madrid, who are dealing directly with Milan.

'A Madrid manager came to ask about the situation of Thiago, and I told him that apart from being flattered by the interest of a team like Real, he has a contract until 2013 and is at ease in Italy.
'I do not know if Milan will accept, it does not depend on me or Thiago. It's a deal that is developing between the two presidents.' Chelsea are preparing a new £27m bid for Luiz, though Benfica are demanding more than £30m for 23-year-old and hope Manchester City will re-enter the race.

Mourinho lauds Chelsea star as "one of the best in the world"

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has lauded Chelsea centreback Ricardo Carvalho as one of the best players in the world amid reports the La Liga giants are hoping to lure him from the Premier League this summer.
The Portuguese international has openly admitted his desire to be reunited with his former manager at the Bernabeu and when pressed on his rumoured interest in the veteran defender, Mourinho was fulsome in his praise for Carvalho.
The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ is quoted by the Daily Mail, saying: “I always said that Carvalho is one of the best in the world.
“We'll see what happens.”
The former Chelsea manager also seemed unconcerned by the 32-year-old’s advancing years, claiming the former FC Porto star is at his peak.
“He is in the period of his greatest maturity,” he concluded.

Didier Drogba not for sale,insist Chelsea-- as champions prepare to splash cash

Chelsea insist Didier Drobga will not be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.The Ivory Coast striker's agent claimed to have been contacted by Manchester City and refused to rule out a 'surprise' before the close of the summer transfer window.
But City were quick to deny making an approach and Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay insists the 32-year-old is not for sale.The Blues' battle to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool had raised suspicions about Drogba's availability, but Gourlay said: 'Didier will be a Chelsea player next year. Didier is under contract.

'The thing about this time of year is we always get (this). For our players to be in the news - it's normal. But Didier Drogba will be a Chelsea player next year.'
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson insists Torres is happy to stay at Anfield, but Gourlay indicated there was money to spend if Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti needed to strengthen.

If Carlo wants to bring a player or two into the squad then we will look at that,' said Gourlay. It has to be the right player to fit into the squad and obviously at the right price.'If these things all come together then fine, we'll strengthen the squad. But only if Carlo feels it's necessary.'
Ancelotti has so far made just one major summer signing with the acquisition of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool for £6million.

Benfica demand £33m for Chelsea target David Luiz

Chelsea, who are set to sign Benfica midfielder Ramires in a £20m deal, have now been told to up their offer of £27m for the star defender.

Luiz, who received his first call-up to the senior Brazil team yesterday, is one of Europe's most highly rated youngsters and has also been targeted by big spenders Manchester City.

Whether Roman Abramovich will stump up the necessary cash to keep Luiz out of City's clutches remains to be seen, but it is also understood that Real Madrid are interested in the Brazilian.

Chelsea, who are without the injured Alex, could find themselves short in numbers if their bid from Luiz is unsuccessful.

But manager Carlo Ancelotti will be buoyed by the news that Ramires has finally returned from Portugal, in order to put the finishing touches to his move to Stamford Bridge - meaning the deal could be tied up within the next few days.

Ancelotti reiterates that Ashley Cole is staying

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has again insisted that Ashley Cole is not for sale, claiming the left-back is "the best player in his position in the world".
Cole has been linked with a move to Real Madrid to be reunited with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
Ancelotti said: "Ashley is a Chelsea player and nobody wants to sell him. We want to keep him in our squad. I am 100% sure he will be at Chelsea this season. I consider him to be the best player in his position in the world.
"I don't need to talk to him. He is happy to stay at Chelsea. He never said he wanted to go. There is no chance he will go. No way.
"If a player is not happy I'll find a solution to make things better. Maybe I'll tell him a joke. I have a lot of jokes."

Drogba to miss start of season after operation

Didier Drogba is likely to miss the start of the Premier League season after Chelsea confirmed the striker had undergone surgery on a groin problem.
Drogba was troubled with the complaint last season, despite scoring a personal best 29 league goals, and will be sidelined for around three weeks as he recovers from the operation.
"Didier Drogba successfully underwent minimally invasive surgery yesterday [Friday] on the groin injury that had troubled him for some of last season," a club statement read.
"The decision to perform the procedure after his return from the World Cup was made to optimise his rehabilitation, and he is expected to return to full training in approximately three weeks."
The Ivory Coast international will certainly miss the remainder of Chelsea's pre-season fixtures and the Community Shield against Manchester United on August 8.
Given that he will return to training in three weeks, it is unlikely that Drogba will be available when Chelsea begin the defence of their Premier League title against West Brom on August 14.

Alex to miss start of season with thigh injury

Chelsea will be without central defender Alex for the start of the Premier League season after he was ruled out of action with a thigh injury.
Alex will be on the sidelines for around a month, and will join Petr Cech on the treatment table. Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper is facing the same amount of time out with a torn calf.
The Brazilian centre-back was only expected to act as deputy to captain John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho as the season opener against West Bromwich Albion on August 14 draws closer, but it does leave the Premier League champions short of options at the back.
 Yossi Benayoun will also not feature against Ajax on Friday. But back-up keepers Hilario and Ross Turnbull the chance to stake a claim to begin the season in the first team.
"Benayoun is out and Alex has a problem in his thigh but with the other players it is the same squad [which played Crystal Palace],'' coach Carlo Ancelotti told the club's official website. ``I think that against Ajax we will play 45 minutes each for Turnbull and Hilario, and I think Turnbull will start the game."

Chelsea lose Petr Cech for a month due to injury

Chelsea will begin the defence of their Premier League title without Petr Cech after the club confirmed on Wednesday the goalkeeper has suffered a calf injury.

 Cech sustained the injury during pre-season training on Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined for a month, meaning he is unlikely to be available for Chelsea's opening Premier League fixture against West Brom on August 14.

"Scans have shown Petr Cech has torn a calf muscle in his right leg and the goalkeeper is expected to be out for a month," a club statement read.

It is a similar injury to the one suffered by Cech in a Champions League match against Inter Milan in February.

On that occasion, Cech was substituted in the first leg defeat to the Italian club on February 24 and did not return to the starting line-up until a 5-0 win over Portsmouth exactly one month later.