John Terry: Roman Abramovich Talks Tactics With Chelsea Players

Chelsea defender John Terry has revealed how club owner Roman Abramovich involves himself in football affairs at Stamford Bridge.

Terry has committed his future to the Blues this week, reportedly thanks in no small part to a meeting with Abramovich.

The England international captain says the Russian has the final say on matters at the club but that he is always looking for feedback from his players.

"Mr. Abramovich is a very successful businessman and makes all the final decisions," Terry said, according to Sky Sports News.

"He likes to have the opinion of the players.

"We are the ones living and breathing the football life and he can make a really small improvement for us on or off the pitch if he tries to do it.

"And he wants to know the feedback from the lads - what is working and what's not.

"It's great because he understands football. He watches so many games and understands the game very well and he has put an awful lot in.

"He wants to know why and how we can improve, all the time. I think it's great we can have that relationship with him."

Franco di Santo Delighted With Chelsea Pre-Season

Chelsea striker Franco di Santo was over the moon after his goal helped the Blues topple Club America in the World Football Challenge.

"I feel happy because it is my first goal in the pre-season, and I am happy because I needed to score to improve myself," the 20-year-old told the club’s official website.

"This was good for me, because I have a lot of competition with the other strikers - but I have scored today and I am happy. It is important but the more important here is that Chelsea win and it is the first trophy from pre-season."

The Argentine U-20 international performed admirably with a strong run that ended in Florent Malouda scoring the second goal for the Pensioners.

"Making goals is as important as scoring because the most important is that the team wins," he added.

Chelsea won the World Football Challenge after emerging victorious in every game in the pre-season competition.

Fabio Capello Is Happy With My Decision To Stay At Chelsea - John Terry

John Terry has come out saying that his decision to stay at Chelsea was made due to the lure of Champions League football. He believes that England boss Fabio Capello will be happy to see him play at the highest level before the World Cup.

"To be in the Champions League is massive," Terry has been quoted in The Mirror as saying. "You never know what Mr. Capello's response would have been had I not been playing Champions League football.

"I'm delighted and I'm sure he's happy. We're looking really good with England - it could be a good year for us.

"I'm just hoping the season starts really well with the national team, and that no one picks up any injuries with England this season, particularly in the late part of the season. It could be really good."

Never a man to shy away from showering praise on his boss, the captain spoke of the influence Carlo Ancelotti has had on the team, saying, “Carlo has been fantastic.

“I know it is only early days but he has been really good - he knows the modern game very well.”

Chelsea recently triumphed in the World Football Challenge after winning all their games in the USA-based pre-season competition.

Atmosphere In Chelsea Team Is Good - Carlo Ancelotti

After an undefeated run so far in the preparations for the start of the new season, combined with a 2-1 victory over his former club Milan in the World Football Challenge, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his contentment following the players’ performances.

“For Chelsea it was a difficult game because Milan played well and moved well on the pitch. Chelsea [had a difficult time in] midfield because we didn't find a right position but the team worked hard on the pitch and we are happy for the victory,” Ancelotti told the club’s official website.

However, the former Rossoneri coach did not intend to sit back and relax, as he believed that there is still room for improvement. He stressed on the atmosphere of the team, which had been lacking during the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

He said, “We have to improve, we have to work, the victory is important because the atmosphere is good in the team and for this we are happy.

“Thanks to all the fans of the USA because there was a beautiful atmosphere at the stadium and I think that the teams played a good match, a good show.”

The Blues boss also praised Yuri Zhirkov, who played in an unfamiliar role as he was tucked into the left-midfield area. The Russian scored the winner during the game between Ancelotti’s past and present clubs.

“Zhirkov is not a surprise, he is a new player for sure and he found it difficult on the pitch for his position,” the coach ascertained.

“This is normal, he has to work with the team and it is important for him to score a goal. We think he is a very good player.”

The Pensioners’ boss concluded by stressing on the atmosphere of the team, and said that Chelsea are enjoying their time on North American soil.

Zhirkov's Debut Goal Sees Chelsea Past Milan

Chelsea 2-1 AC Milan

Yuri Zhirkov scored the winner on his debut, as Chelsea ran out 2-1 winners over Milan.

The last time these two sides met was in a friendly last summer, when a horror show from Zeljko Kalac contributed to a 5-0 romp from Chelsea. The Australian keeper was back between the sticks this time, and he was in action soon, saving a pile-driver from range from Frank Lampard.

It was all Chelsea in the early stages, and it was no surprise when the goal came after just six minutes, and it was worth the price of entry. Picking the ball up more than 30 yards out, Didier Drogba unleashed an unstoppable shot that went flying into the top right hand corner, leaving Kalac with no chance.

Milan began to earn a bit more possession after conceding, but they were struggling to create any genuine chances. They did come close on 18 minutes, when Andrea Pirlo's shot from range was well saved by Petr Cech's outstretched left foot, while Ronaldinho's overhead kick from the rebound bounced out off Marco Borriello.

Chelsea were content to sit back and counter, and they were getting plenty of encouragement from Kalac's antics in goal. Having nearly made a complete mess of an attempt to tackle Nicolas Anelka, once in the box and once way outside of it, he then managed to fumble a seemingly routine cross, but luckily escaped unpunished on all three occasions.

Just before the half-hour, Milan had their best chance of the match, when a 1-2 between Clarence Seedorf and Alexandre Pato resulted in a sublime chip from the Dutchman, which was cleared off the line by John Terry.

After a frantic start, the game had slowed down somewhat, but on 35 minutes, a scything challenge from Mathieu Flamini on Jon Obi Mikel earned him a yellow card, a rare occurrence for a friendly.

On 37 minutes, just when the match was looking for some inspiration after a brief lull, it was provided by Seedorf. Ronaldinho laid the ball up for him just outside the box, and he unleashed an strike to match Drogba's earlier effort, as Cech helplessly watched the ball sail into the top-right hand corner.

Chelsea almost fought back instantly, when Drogba's ball across the six-yard box found Yuri Zhirkov, who was denied by Kalac's trailing leg.

That was the last chance of an exciting first half in which Milan dominated possession, while Chelsea created the best chances, and both sides deserved to be level thanks to two spectacular strikes.

Unusually for a friendly, neither team made a change at half-time. Chelsea were inches away from reclaiming the lead almost immediately, when Anelka slid his shot just past the far post after being put through by Drogba.

Seconds later, Seedorf nearly produced an early contender for goal of the season. Playing the ball into Ronaldinho, the Brazilian produced a phenomenal first time back-heel back into Seedorf's path. but the Dutchman's lob flew just wide.

It was certainly an intense start to the second period, and Kalac was being kept busy again as Lampard tested him out with another long range effort. Branislav Ivanovic then got booked for a challenge that might have seen him off in a competitive encounter, and Ronaldinho's free-kick flew wide.

On the hour mark, Carlo Ancelotti made his first substitution, replacing Anelka with AndriyShevchenko. Meanwhile, Seedorf, who had just picked up a knock to the knee, was replaced by Ignazio Abate. The changes were now starting to increase, with Oguchi Onyewu and Gianmarco Zigoni replacing Nesta and Borrielo respectively.

With twenty minutes remaining, Chelsea took the lead once more. Shevchenko cut in from the left and saw his shot saved, while Lampard's rebound was also blocked. However, the ball came out to Zhirkov, who fired a low strike in at the near post.

The Rossoneri continued to make their changes, with Gennaro Gattuso now replacing Pirlo. Marek Jankulovski then took Zambrotta's place, while Drogba was withdrawn for Claudio Pizarro.

Milan now almost had a new XI by this stage, with Davide Di Gennaro replacing Ronaldinho, and Filippo Inzaghi taking Pato's place.

With ten minutes remaining, Milan did not look likely to equalize, as the new introductions tried to settle into the game. Inzaghi did attempt an ambitious bicycle kick, but he failed to connect properly and the ball simply floated out of play.

On 85 minutes, Zhirkov's succesful debut came to an end, as he was replaced by Michael Mancienne. Just before full time, Jose Bosingwa was withdrawn for Sam Hutchinson.

Just when it seemed as though the game was petering out to its inevitable conclusion, Inzaghi got a trademark header in from the six yard box, which was spectacularly tipped over by Cech. Onyewu then headed wide from a late cross, as Chelsea hung on to claim the victory.

Deco Vows To Perform For Chelsea

After a torrid season with the Premier League big-boys, Deco claims that he is looking to turn things around in his second season with Chelsea.

And despite a prolonged flirt with a move to Inter, the Portugal international looks determined to perform under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.

"I'll be here because I have a contract. I just want to play. I will do my best wherever I am on the pitch," The Times quotes the 31-year-old as saying.

"The last season was difficult for me, I had many injuries and only played a few games.

"I’m happy to play. Every player needs to play and wants to play. I hope this season I don’t have the injuries and can play the way I know."

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered as a whole due to a host of internal problems that saw Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked, with Guus Hiddink seeing out the season for the Blues.

Deco feels that a combination of the administrative problems within the camp coupled with his catalogue of injuries contributed to his poor performances last term.

"It wasn’t just the injuries, but when you have four injuries in the same year it is difficult," he went on.

"You recover and get fit again and, straight after, another injury. It’s so difficult. I don’t like to make excuses, but I hope to work hard and start this season playing well.

"All I want to do is to play and do my best for Chelsea."

Hollywood Star Will Ferrell Acts As Honorary Chelsea Captain

Will Farrell's love for Chelsea has been apparent since he started appearing on The Daily Show on American television sporting one of the Blues' replica shirts, and the actor was on hand at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, on Tuesday night to act as 'captain' for the side ahead of the friendly win over Inter.

Ferrell was sporting the shirt he wears on The Daily Show, and revealed that his love for the west Londoners runs deep.
"This is the same one as The Daily Show, it's vintage now but I have a new one already," he told the club's official website.

"Chelsea have just reached out to me a couple of times and, I can't say that I only follow Chelsea, I try to keep an eye on all the teams in the Premiership and I love soccer in general.

"I'm a big sports fan as a whole, and was a sports journalist, a very, very good sports journalist."

The 42-year-old star of Anchorman and Step Brothers also revealed that his favourite player is the club's talismanic England international midfielder Frank Lampard.

"I love Frank Lampard, he's one of the toughest guys of all time," he enthused.

"I went to a match against Barcelona two or three years ago and the atmosphere was just fantastic, there is nothing like that here, so it was really fun to watch."

Nicolas Anelka Admits He Is Feeling At Home With Chelsea

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, who has led a journeyman playing career having worn the colours of nine different clubs in the past 14 seasons, is finally feeling at home.

The striker, who was shunted out wide while partnering Didier Drogba in a three-pronged attack last season under Guus Hiddink, is quoted by This Is London as saying, "I am happy at Chelsea. I am very pleased about everything that is going on and also with things on the outside. I don't need to move.

"My last season here was pleasing. It's always good to score goals and more so to finish top scorer. So I'm glad to be here, to play for a big club like Chelsea and that I had a good season."

Tactical changes and formation alterations have already been mooted by new boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is believed to favour fielding two strikers. Anelka is looking forward to playing alongside Drogba, as opposed to slightly behind him.

He explained to London's Evening Standard, "When I first signed I thought I would play with Didier up front, but they only wanted to play one of us up front. It was a shame because we knew we could play together.

"When we play together, I look for him straight away when I have the ball. I want him to score and the same goes for him. When he has the ball he looks for me when I'm up front."

Last season's Golden Boot winner believes the club are capable of landing the Premier League and Champions League double next season.

"We are capable of winning both titles," he proclaimed. "Last season we couldn't do it but we will try to do it next season.

"Last year we conceded too many draws and lost games at home, this cost us the title."

Carlo Ancelotti '100 Per Cent' Sure Of Chelsea Stay For John Terry

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is certain John Terry will remain at the club this summer, despite persistent question marks surrounding the player's future.

Terry has been linked continuously with Manchester City over recent weeks, forcing officials at Stamford Bridge to insist that the defender is going nowhere.

The England international's silence on the matter has done the club no favours in knocking back City's advances, but Ancelotti still believes Terry will be a Chelsea player at the start of the season.

"I am sure he will remain at Chelsea. I am sure, 100 per cent." he said at a press conference in the United States ahead of Chelsea's meeting with the Seattle Sounders.

"He has a contract for three years more."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech outlined Terry's commitment to the club, explaining that he can see the stopper is very much committed to the cause.

He said, "He's the same captain he was three months ago, five months ago, one year ago, five years ago, so I don't see any difference.

"I don't have to ask him [about his future] because I can see with my eyes that he is committed."

I Had Two Bad Games, But I Was Still Consistent – Peter Cech

Peter Cech admits Chelsea had no chance of winning the Premier League title last season after his mid-season blip, in which he conceded seven goals in consecutive games against Bolton and Liverpool.

Cech reflected on what he describes as his ‘worst period’ at Chelsea and how Guus Hiddink’s arrival ensured Chelsea regained their fighting spirit.

"I had two bad games but it shouldn't take away from my consistent form during the season. After five years at the club, it was the most criticism I've had,” Cech told Chelsea Magazine.

"We threw away the title because of our form in December and January but after that we did brilliantly.

"In Mr Hiddink's time here we had a superb record and played very well. We never actually lost in the Champions League knock out stages so our exit was really tough to take.

"The final months were very interesting, exciting even. When you are at a club like Chelsea any loss is disappointing because we are one of the best teams in Europe."

Cech insists he is experienced enough to ‘stay calm’ and maintains he is working on things he could possibly do a ‘little better’.

He said: "I always look to improve and I analyse the bad games exactly the same as the good. You can pre-plan as much as you want but the game is based on instincts a lot of the time so it's not always possible."

He added: “One hundred and eighty minutes doesn't make me a bad goalkeeper and doesn't take away from the thousands of minutes where I have played well.

"I understand the media interest because they like to follow your ups and downs and they were my first big 'mistakes' at Chelsea. I accept that."

Cech, 27, admits his position between the posts in unique and he has a special relationship with his fellow 'keepers.

"There is definitely an unspoken understanding between the 'goalkeepers union.' I keep in touch with other goalkeepers like Pepe Reina, to joke about who can keep the most clean sheets.

"I find it's good to share experiences because it helps you learn. Keepers always back one another. If one of us has had a bad game, the other keeper will commiserate and put his arm around your shoulder and say 'it's only a game.'

"As a keeper it's always your fault if you make mistakes. When the outfield players make mistakes, it doesn't always affect the game in the same way. That makes being in goal a really tough job.

"We're not crazy, just very brave. We have to throw ourselves at people's feet in the six yard box and it's not easy but when you make a good save, you get such a rush, it's like a striker when he scores a good goal.

"That's why I like being a goalkeeper. I have always like individual sports like tennis, and goalkeeping has its unique aspects but I prefer team sports like ice hockey because you get a sense of camaraderie and working together towards one goal."

Carlo Ancelotti Plays Down John Terry's Chelsea Exit Talk

There are few one-club men left in the modern game and John Terry, a seemingly sturdy symbol of all things Chelsea, was long regarded as the modern embodiment of a dying sentiment. However, as Manchester City loomed ominously over Stamford Bridge with a cloud of financial clout, temptations may have been swayed.

Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti, though, has today indicated that he hopes Terry will remain at the club, as he intends on keeping his "important" players together.

The former AC Milan manager, a trainer with grand pedigree in continental success both as a player and as a coach, has already overseen his first training sessions and has therefore begun to assess his squad.

The 50-year-old has singled out a spine of English talent as fundamental to the club's success; the captain Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole have been included for special praise from Ancelotti.

Together with the aforementioned Anglican trident, a further trio - one of recruits - have been gaining press for their differing backgrounds and new responsibilities. When pressed as to how former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, highly-rated forward Daniel Sturridge, and Russian trickster Yuri Zhirkov, were coping with the rigours of life in west London, Ancelotti responded on the club's official website, "They work very well. They have a good relationship between the players, a very good team spirit.

"There are some players that are important for this team, [John] Terry, [Frank] Lampard, [Joe] Cole, very important."

Chelsea are about to leave for a potentially money-spinning tour of the United States. They face Seattle on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho: Carlo Ancelotti Is Not My Friend, Real Madrid & Juventus Not Special, Journalist Questions Are 'Gay'

It's a new season for Jose Mourinho, but he is back to his old habits as he takes a swipe at Milan, Juventus, European big spenders Real Madrid, as well as new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. He also bizarrely labelled a couple of questions from a journalist as 'gay'.

Mourinho gave a 360 degree press conference at Appiano Gentile during his first day back at work as pre-season begins for the Serie A champions. Those who were there could be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja-vu as the coach resumes his verbal challenges.

"Real Madrid? I have nothing special to say on Real Madrid. We might not even play them this season. I am not scared of them. They are a world club with great players and they will be under the spotlight, but I have nothing to say," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia

"I am not scared of Italian teams either. What they have been doing is normal. Everyone wants to get better and that's obvious (referring to recent spending by Juventus)."

Mourinho continued to give his usual smart answers as he tried to out-wit the press who fired questions hand over fist, but the coach was quick to press the buzzer with his responses which, at times, caused controversy.

"Your question sounds gay to me," said Mourinho when he was twice asked to give a clue about the type of defender he was looking for.

"You say blonde, brown, fair," as he continued to joke with the media.

He then spoke of objectives and of his plans to push through his squad-chop plans.

"I always have the same objectives. I am satisfied to return. I like working, playing, coaching. I like the competition," added the coach.

"We are to start work straight away for next week's friendlies. I am happy and satisfied.

"The squad size? It's a problem for me. I am not happy. Its not good for working. It's XI against XI in a match and having 30 players in training is not positive.

"The players who I want to go know I don't want them to stay. It's not good for the team. It's negative.

"Today it seems players are interested in money and lifestyle rather than anything else. Some players prefer to stay in a team where the coach doesn't want him, rather than find another team.

"[Luis] Jimenez made the move to West Ham and it's good for him. Other players dont want to leave and I have to respect the law and contracts.

"My ideas won't change about certain players. I won't change my mind about them."

The 'Special One' then gave his views on the transfer market, preferring to stick to his no-comment style.

"Nedved? I am not speaking about any players who are not here," he added

"It's always the same story. The market is open until the end of the summer. We will see if other clubs are interested in our players.

"Are Inter complete? We play with 11 players. We are complete, but there are different ways of seeing things. We want eight players to leave the team and four players to arrive so the team grows in the direction myself and the club wants to grow."

Mourinho then went on to bemoan the pre and post-match analysis in Italy, saying he preferred England. "It's easier to coach in England because people think about football for 90 minutes. In Italy there are 60 million coaches in the country."

To complete the press conference, Mourinho was asked about former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, and whether he will do well after taking over at Chelsea. The Special One's response was raw, and certain to spark a war of words with Ancelotti, whom he did not enjoy a good relationship with last season.

"Ancelotti is not my friend," Mourinho sniped.

Chelsea Plotting €70m Plus Deco And Carvalho Swap For Inter's Ibrahimovic

Chelsea are planning a sensational swoop for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to The News of the World.

Apparently, the Blues are ready to offer €70 million plus Ricardo Carvalho and Deco, the Portuguese pair in whom the Nerazzurri have expressed interest.

Ibrahimovic is well aware of the London club's interest, saying, "I am fully aware that Chelsea want to sign me and, of course, it is very flattering.

"They are one of the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world."

If the deal goes through, it will more than double Chelsea's record transfer fee, when they paid €34m for Andriy Shevchenko.

Chelsea would also have to match Ibrahimovic's current wages of around €12m per year, but the Swedish striker insisted that a potential move was not about money.

"Money is not the most important thing," he continued. "I will base my decision on what's good for me, what suits me.

"It is about asking: will I still be able to be special in the league that I am going to, the team I am going to? Are my qualities right for the Premier League or not?"

Deco willing to stay at Blues

Portugal international Deco had been linked with a move away from the Premier League club following a largely disappointing debut campaign in West London.

Though Deco scored in his first two games for the Blues, he struggled with injuries and then made just three appearances during Guus Hiddink's short reign.

He had expressed a desire to be reunited with his former Porto boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, however the Italian champions are not willing to meet Chelsea's asking price.

The Brazilian-born playmaker is now prepared to stick with the Blues before seeking a move back to his homeland.

"I am getting tired of Europe, but out of respect for Chelsea, I will stay on this continent a while longer," Deco told A Bola.

"I have some offers from other clubs, but if I stay at Chelsea it's important that some things change because things happened last year that I did not like.

"I have had some adaptation problems in England and I've been sidelined with several injuries."

Only Real Madrid Can Afford Franck Ribery

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has suggested his new club are not finished in the transfer market this summer, though he believes Franck Ribery will not be joining him. Indeed, if the Bayern Munich star goes anywhere, it will be to Real Madrid, in the Italian's opinion.

Ancelotti was unveiled as Chelsea boss yesterday and faced the press for the first time at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian revealed his admiration for the Bayern winger and said that, although the Blues are looking for a creative spark, he thinks Ribery will stay in Germany.

"Chelsea are a strong team, a physical team doing very well," Ancelotti said, according to Sky Sports.

"They can be improved with some creative players. We are looking for these creative players.

"Ribery is, for sure, a great, great player. But Ribery, I think, he will stay in Bayern Munich."

Ancelotti added that only Real Madrid may be able to afford the France international.

He continued, "Madrid can buy Ribery, I know. Not only Ribery, but [Liverpool midfielder Xabi] Alonso as well. I know how many players Madrid can buy."

Roman Pavlyuchenko, Milos Krasic & Aleksandr Boroduk Hail Chelsea Recruit Yuri Zhirkov

Tottenham Hotspur forward Roman Pavlyuchenko has lauded Chelsea's latest recruit, Yuri Zhirkov, as a character who can boast strong leadership credentials, while a former team-mate of the 25-year-old's - Milos Krasic – has opined that the new Blue was the best footballer in his homeland.

"I'm very glad Yuri has moved to Chelsea," Pavlyuchenko explained to the official website of UEFA. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime offer and you have to say 'yes.' Zhirkov is a great professional. He could become a team leader. The only problem is his knowledge of the English language. If he masters that, all will be well."

Learning English and grasping the complexities of the language was also a snag cited by former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis, who earlier stated that should the former CSKA man master English, then he could make as instant an impact as Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin.

Zhirkov's first boss, Valeri Sharapov, coached the winger as a ten-year-old, and praised his intensive attitude toward training. "His control of the ball is a natural gift. Even after training, he stayed outside to play with his friends and went to sleep with the ball," the coach said.

Serbia attacker Krasic, a former team-mate of Zhirkov, who would oft have spent his match-days mirroring the productivity of the £18 million man on the opposite flank, added, "Yuri is the best footballer in Russia. At the European Championships he showed his class to the world. He also played consistently for the club. I am not surprised Chelsea came in for him. Zhirkov is totally worth it."

Russian assistant coach Aleksandr Boroduk told UEFA’s website, "One of his biggest strengths is that he continues to outdo himself. That tells you all about his character. I also want to underline his personal qualities: he is a fabulous person."

Manchester City To Offer Chelsea Stalwart John Terry £300,000-A-Week

Although Chelsea have been rebuffing Manchester City's advances thus far, John Terry has apparently been rocked by the latest contract offer coming from Eastlands.

According to The Sun, Chelsea have rejected a £30 million offer from City but are expecting a £40m bid in the near future, while Terry has been told he would be paid a staggering £300,000-a-week.

The centre-back has apparently been interested in the Citizens' project for some time, but the tabloid reports that he has been taken aback by Mark Hughes' persistence. The England and Chelsea captain is already earning a weekly salary of £150,000 at Stamford Bridge, but City's offer would make him the highest-paid player in the world by some distance.

After the Kaka saga in January, Manchester City's owners are intent on bringing a superstar to Eastlands this year, and it appears that Terry is the man.

The deals for Carlos Tevez and Samuel Eto'o remain unsigned, but Mark Hughes believes that Terry is key to any success Manchester City may have next year as the defence is in need of strengthening.

Carlo Ancelotti Wants Alexandre Pato At Chelsea For Pre-Season Training

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti wants to push through a deal to bring Alexandre Pato to Stamford Bridge in time for pre-season training next Monday, according to reports.

The Pato transfer saga has dragged on since the announcement of Ancelotti's appointment at Chelsea.

Milan are rumoured to have continued to rebuff the Blues' approaches for their Brazilian teenage sensation, with an offer of around €45 million (£38.8m) believed to be the latest bid rejected.

Adriano Galliani has insisted Pato is not for sale, but The Sun is now reporting Chelsea officials are set to meet with Milan representatives in the next 24 hours to discuss a deal, with Ancelotti apparently yet to arrive in London as he awaits news of the negotiations.

The former Milan coach officially became Chelsea manager on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to sign Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge, with a tribunal deciding a compensation fee for the latter as his contract has expired and he is under the age of 23.

The Blues begin their pre-season friendlies with a trip to America to face the Seattle Sounders on July 18.

Ross Turnbull Expected To Complete Chelsea Switch

Ross Turnbull, formerly of Gareth Southgate's relegated Middlesbrough side, is widely expected to complete a lucrative switch to contemporary domestic heavyweights Chelsea, according to the Gazette.

The 24-year-old is currently a free agent, after his contract at the Teesside outfit expired on Wednesday, and negotiations between player and potential future employer are allegedly going well.

Turnbull will compete with Portuguese shot-stopper Henrique Hilario for a place on the Blues bench, and will, if successful, become Czech Republic international Petr Cech's understudy.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also pursuing more high-profile targets, and Russian winger Yuri Zhirkov, a player who is not opposed to hard graft in midfield, is also widely expected to be unveiled as a Blue in the coming days.

Zhirkov commands a lot of respect in Russia, in particular with current CSKA Moscow boss Zico, who has often stated that the 'Russian Ronaldinho' is one of the greatest players he has worked with, and would be a natural fit in the Premier League.

Michael Ballack Reveals Chelsea's Champions League Desire

Despite Chelsea's ageing squad, there still remains an insatiable hunger for further titles in the Blues camp, according to Germany international Michael Ballack, who spoke recently of his desire to add to the FA Cup win from last season with further success next season.

Since wealthy Russian sponsor Roman Abramovich bought the Stamford Bridge outfit in 2003, a continental triumph in the Champions League has been the top priority, and Ballack spoke of how the Chelsea dressing room desires Europe's most prestigious trophy more than any other.

"We have to focus, that is for sure. We are hungry to win the [league] title back," Ballack told Chelsea TV. "There is also a big target in Europe again, because that is what we want to do as well.

"Chelsea are a big team with a lot of international players, and they want to win the Champions League."

Elsewhere, Luiz Felipe Scolari recently lifted the lid on whom he felt was responsible for his mid-season axing from west London, indicating that a trident of senior players were perhaps the catalyst for his departure. Michael Ballack was one of the three, Scolari claimed, alluding to how player power is more rife than ever.