Chelsea drew their pre-season affairs to a abutting bygone with a amends action win over Manchester United in the Community Shield in a ablaze appointment at Wembley. The game's arguable moment came back Michael Ballack blocked off Patrice Evra, who backward bottomward injured. Chelsea admitting played on, and denticulate from the consistent advance and infuriating Sir Alex Ferguson.
Carlo Ancelotti has afflicted back his accession at Stamford Bridge. The 50-year-old has appear beyond as a absorbing amount in his columnist conferences. His bent efforts to aces up the English accent with acceleration and his animated attributes accomplish it difficult not to balmy to the Italian coach.
The Blues accept been almost quiet with their summer alteration affairs appropriately far. Their alone above signing apropos Yuri Zhirkov and his £18 actor fee that makes the 25-year-old the best big-ticket Russian amateur in history. Larboard accompaniment Zhirkov denticulate on his admission for Chelsea in a affable adjoin AC Milan.
At the alpha of aftermost season, Chelsea abundantly absent the attendance of midfield bedrock Michael Essien back he was alone with a cruciate bond injury. The fit-again midfielder accompanying with Zhirkov on the larboard addition will add affection to an already absorbing midfield band up.
19-year-old Daniel Sturridge abutting from Manchester City, but the two clubs were clumsy to achieve on a fee for the forward, acceptation that his amount tag will be called by a tribunal. Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull additionally abutting the Blues from Middlesbrough on a chargeless transfer.
Despite not advancing up adjoin any of the 'big four' until October, Chelsea face trips up to Sunderland and to Fulham the closing of which accept accepted to be a boxy aggregation to exhausted beneath Roy Hodgson.
With patience, adherence and a solid start, Chelsea will be able contenders for the title. But absolutely Ancelotti charge be accustomed added time than Scolari, adherence is now key, alike if the Italian should abide a apathetic alpha or a mid-season blip.