Carlo Ancelotti will inherit a Chelsea squad "hungry" to regain the Barclays Premier League title and conquer Europe, according to midfielder Michael Ballack.
The Italian coach officially started work on Wednesday following his appointment as permanent successor after Guus Hiddink's successful caretaker reign at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are closing in on their first major signing of the Ancelotti era with a reported £18million deal for the versatile Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow.
German midfielder Ballack, 32, insists the group's sights are already on ending 2010 as champions of both England and Europe.
"We have to focus on this again, that is for sure. We are hungry to win the 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."
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Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, A.Cole, Essien, Lampard, J.Cole, Zhirkov, Drogba, Anelka, Kalou, Ballack, Mikel, Hilario, Turnbull, Malouda, Sturridge, Mancienne? Deco? Bosingwa? Carvalho? Belletti? Di Santo? Chelsea could be strong next season. Zhirkov and Essien great. But I hope they win nothing! Dirty Chelsea!
I extremely dought ancelotti's pottential, he will not be able to lift that team to any other hights, other than stagnanting it. there's nothing i expect him to change, bring @#$% Advocate.
from VVube Richard i kampala.
ryan r -- it's all very well telling Chelsea to go and sign some big name players but it's not as if they haven't been trying. It's just that said big name players seem to prefer to either stay where they are or go to Real Madrid!
what the hell is ancelloti doing?..go sign superb players....real madrid already sign precious player...
chelsea need a stronger squad to become a champions...plzzzzzzzzzzz..
go sign superb players
I can see chelsea winning the CL but I feel ancelotti plays around with formations and players positions too much for the EPL. african cup could have an effect on central midfield if he doesnt use the squad right before and during.
Arsenal win the league, you are joking. Most of their players are to young, and wenger is continuing not to buy you will win nothing
arsenal will wimper away as usual they will just about make top six with spurs,everton,city breathing down there necks if fabregas goes van persie will jump ship as well the team is to soft as it has been for the past four years..drogba to challenge torres as top scorer this season who else will score 25 goals apart from these two ??
Ballack might have his sights on the premiership and Championship trophies for Chelsea next season, but I feel that he will need to see a good optician. In my opinion the teams who will be the main contenders in these races are Arsenal, Liverpool or my own team Man. U. Cant see Chelsea worrying any of these. Got a funny feeling that Arsenal could get the Premiership next season, with Liverpool or Man U in the Champions league final against Barcelona. Think Ballack is too old now and too bad tempered to have his opinions aired anyway.
Bunch of ageing players.....................
your time is past ballack. with a midfield of lampard, essien, zhirkov and malouda.
you will be hungry for first team football!
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