Ancelotti to promote youth players

[Term-X 7,891]

Carlo Ancelotti has conceded that this season will only be deemed a success if Chelsea regain the Premier League title ahead of the anticipated summer of upheaval among the playing staff at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea manager met the owner, Roman Abramovich, and the director Eugene Tenenbaum at Cobham this week to discuss transfer policy and will continue to formulate his strategy for the close season over the final month of the campaign. While Abramovich would be willing to bankroll a major signing, at an appropriate price, it appears that Ancelotti, too, is increasingly reluctant to spend heavily in a market likely to be distorted by Manchester City's limitless funds.

The Italian made a point yesterday of insisting the only certainty will be that a quintet of academy graduates brought to the club by the sporting director, Frank Arnesen, will be regular members of his senior squad next term. The involvement of Gaël Kakuta, Jeffrey Bruma, Nemanja Matic, Fabio Borini and Patrick van Aanholt will have implications on the likes of Juliano Belletti, Michael Ballack, Deco and Joe Cole, all of whom are out of contract in the summer, as well as other ageing players such as Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho.

"The only sure thing will be that, next season, there will be five players from the academy in the [first-team] squad," said Ancelotti. "Some other players will move on. It's not because we don't have the money [to compete in the transfer market] but because we want to give strength to our academy. We have very good young players and this is the time to put them in the squad for next year. They are all able to be members of Chelsea's first-team set-up."

Asked whether the club's supporters would be satisfied to enter next season without the addition of at least one big‑name signing, Ancelotti added: "They'll be happy if Chelsea win the title and the FA Cup. After that, I think they will see some new players in the future. I've seen Kakuta in the Champions League and the fans were very happy then. Kakuta is a 'new player'. They will see new players. The most important thing is that they don't desire to see a new coach. Do we need to win the league to make this a 'successful season'? Yes, we have to win it. At this point of the season, we have to win it."

There is an understandable reluctance at Chelsea to match the potential level of spending at City – for whom money will, again, be no object this summer – which is likely to price the Londoners out of a move for Liverpool's Fernando Torres. Roberto Mancini spoke openly about his desire to sign the Spaniard this week. "If he wants Torres, I think he's a very good striker, a good choice," said Ancelotti. "We have [Didier] Drogba and [Nicolas] Anelka, and that's enough for us. A team has to take the players they feel they need."

Yet there is also an acceptance that the team's forward ranks will need energising. Franck Ribéry's recent off-field travails could dissuade Chelsea from seeking to bring the Bayern Munich winger to the Premier League, and Atlético Madrid's asking price for Sergio Agüero – in excess of £40m at present – will have to be dropped to nearer the £30m mark for Chelsea to seek a deal. Further options would be Wolfsburg's highly rated forward Edin Dzeko and Alexandre Pato of Milan.

Further meetings between manager and owner will take place over the remainder of the season, while no formal decision will be made on the futures of those out-of-contract players until after the end of the campaign. "That is not dependent upon us winning the league," said Ancelotti. "We are involved in important competitions at the moment, but we will take a decision at the end of the season. We have time. The season finishes on 15 May and they are under contract until the start of July. So we have two months to make decisions on their contracts."

The league leaders will consider handing Ashley Cole his first start since he broke his ankle at Everton in February against Stoke City tomorrow as they look to maintain their narrow advantage at the top of the table.

His return offers both club and country a timely boost, with the Chelsea manager insistent the full-back is "100% fit and focused on playing football, nothing else" following problems recently in his own private life. John Terry is suspended against Stoke – "a big miss," according to Ancelotti – with Mikel John Obi injured and Michael Essien out for the season. The Germany coach, Joachim Löw, will be at Stamford Bridge where he is expected to talk to the national team captain, Ballack, about his plans for the World Cup.

http://www.guardian....summer-upheaval

[Henrique 9,133]

Good news. Aguero and one more new player is enough, if Chelsea give the youngs a chance...a real chance.

I would like to see Bruma, Stoch, Borini and Kakuta playing some games in the starting XI next season.

[.Cee 50]

Hopefully he'll prove his words true next season.

[boshman 1,073]

Very good news. We have had so many promising youngsters at this club in recent years and they just haven't had the football to prove their worth. Hopefully next year like Citra said, Carlo sticks to his word and gives the youngsters their oppourtunity.

[Randall 315]

Ancelotti did say this when he joined though me thinks. Our squad needs revitalizing, it's getting a bit old and haggered, need some young blood somewhere somehow.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Ancelotti has done a wonderful job with this squad. He has his preferred way of playing football, yet he has gone against his footballing principles to play a system he isn't used to. Using what is essentially still Mourinho's squad, he looks to have brought us incredible levels of success this season, and even if we don't eventually win the Premier League I believe he's done a wonderful job. However in his first season - and this goes for any manager - it is vital he gets to learn the player's capabilities. He now knows who suits Chelsea's systems the best, for instance Malouda is just as influential on the wing in a 4-3-3 as he is in the middle in the 4-1-2-1-2. Next season we'll probably see an overhaul of the squad and he'll bring in players he wants - ie. big names, and the youth players. I think it would have been too difficult to bring in too many youngsters this season because of the demand for instant success - we have needed to play our strongest possible team to get us into the position we are currently in, and I am dead certain we wouldn't be on the verge of doing the double if we'd have risked playing too many youngsters this season. This campaign has allowed Ancelotti to weigh up all his options and next year we'll see a true Italian's squad at the Bridge.

[kakuta44 16]

awesome ...... but a couple of names are missing there it's cork , hutshinson , more importantly STOCH.......

also i hope that doesn't mean there will be no new signing this year because we desperatly need aguero and a good midfielder i would pay anything to get de rossi or hamsik ......

the most part that i liked is that he made it clear that the dead wood will leave .....

Edited April 24, 2010 by kakuta44

[warnie_666 1,081]

Just Get Stoch in place of Borini. Borini is way behind Drogba, Kalou, Anelka, Sturridge. Plus with all the talks of Aguero or Pato coming in it will be difficult for him to break through. A Loan move for Borini would do him good.

Mancienne is getting better. I beleive at the moment he could be a good squad player but if we want him as a genuine starter at the base of midfield then he needs another loan move at Wolves. After that may be he could challenge Mikel for the position of Defensive Midfielder.

Cork I beleive still needs another loan move next season. He is getting better and you dont want him to be on bench but playing more and more. At the moment Matic is well ahead of him.

[NattyBlue 44]

I don't think Cork is behind at all, he can boss midfield and has great vision. Dare I say it I see a Lampard on our hands

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Stoch has to be the first player that gets a chance, he has been immense in Holland and should be given the first shot at pushing for a starting place or place in the rotation list. I would love to see Hutchinson and Cork also, but due to the fact we have Alex and JT and Ivan, Both is unlikely, maybe one loaned and one benched?

Also, i would like to see Rhys Taylor or Jan Sebek have ONE game in goal, hell even Sam Walker, probably early FA Cup or Carling Cup, but at least give them the one shot to show how they can do, and loan the other.

[Randall 315]

I can't wait for Delac to come to us from inter zaprasic, he looks really really good in the highlights i've managed to catch of him, I think he'll be able to replace Cech in 2-3 years easily. I truly, truly believe that Gael Kakuta can do a major job for us, he has got a little spark and a little magic and flair that we're sometimes missing, I think he needs to be given quite a free role though and also needs to play without fear, he definitelys needs to be given the chance to shine. I'd love to see him on the wing or tip of the diamond if Ancelotti really wants to play that system. Maybe even as a second striker if we don't get aguero?

[5354 204]

OUT:

Deco

Belletti

Ferreira

Ballack?

There is sure gonna be a fight next season...

Mancienne vs Hutchingson vs Bruma for the defenders slot.

[zolayes 14,489]

Hopefully he'll prove his words true next season.

so far he has been a man who keeps to what he says ,,,I C I T

Edited April 25, 2010 by zolayes

[Randall 315]

Two youngsters on, one puts in a fantastic ball and then one scores a great goal and does a legendary celebration!

[We Hate Scouse 10,332]

Two youngsters on, one puts in a fantastic ball and then one scores a great goal and does a legendary celebration!

Legendary? I'm not to sure about that! It was shocking haha what on earth was he trying to do?

[Randall 315]

I don't know but I loved it.

[the wes 7,212]

heres my five youth players i would put in the squad next year

stoch

Kakuta

Bruma

Borini

Matić

i think its time to sell sinclair and Mancienne both are not good enough to break in to the 1St team......

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Hopefully Hutchinson can overcome his injury problems and get a more consistent first team appearances.

[NattyBlue 44]

Sinclair's times up I think, I dunno about Mancienne anymore, before I thought he would be off but now I'm confused

[EskWeston 696]

Fantastic to hear Carlo confirm this even though it is what we thought would happen anyway. There are a whole host players who can move into the first team squad for next season so it will be interesting to see who is eventuallu used, i would think the most likely are Kakuta, Bruma and Stoch not too sure if Matic would be classed in the same bracket as he was talking academy players.

If Sam Hutchinson can stay fit then he has a good shout, Jack Cork is another who i feel should get a chance and probably one of either Van Aanholt or Bertrand.