Ancelotti: Ready to Rotate

chelseafc.com - Carlo Ancelotti says the position Chelsea are in going into the final two months of the season was only a dream scenario during the dark midwinter spell of poor form.

Since then there have been additions to the squad and an improvement in results that have placed the Blues into the quarter finals of the Champions League and at the top of the Barclays Premier League form table based on the last six games.

It is not only recent results that have the manager predicting the team will hold its form in the coming weeks, but also an injury report that is as short as it has been all season.

The players involved in international matches over the past week returned without significant injuries. Yossi Benayoun, who played 20 minutes for Israel on Tuesday after six months out, is training normally. Alex has no problems with the knee that underwent surgery and is increasing his training load gradually.

Both might be considered for selection for the second leg of the Champions League tie against Manchester United, away at Old Trafford in a week and a half.

The squad has trained lightly the past two days and before he chooses his front pairing for tomorrow's game, Ancelotti will observe Friday afternoon's more intense session with his eye especially on Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou, who returned from internationals with a slight fitness problem.

'The month of March was very important for us and we did very well,' Ancelotti says.

'We returned to play our football and our confidence came back. We are ready to play games every three days because all the players are fit and have good motivation.

'Always in April you have to play your cards but we are ready to play, and if we think three months ago in November and December, it was a dream to arrive here in this situation. Now I feel we have the possibility to fight and do our best.

'There is a good atmosphere in the team and for this reason I am happy. Maybe tomorrow we lose the game but I won't change my idea on this because I have a good sensation.'

With a possible nine games in April, Ancelotti identifies team rotation as vital and he is pleased Nicolas Anelka expressed a relaxed attitude to this in his interview on the Official Chelsea Website today.

'The players understand that rotation is important for them and above all for the club. If you play individually you want to play every game but if you play as a team you understand. The strength of this team is that players like Anelka and others with strong personalities are thinking for the team and not just for themselves.

'It would be wrong to have just 11 players involved and the other 11 or 12 without motivation. To play eight or nine games in April we have to have more than 11 players.'

Stoke have fitnessed doubts over striker John Carew and goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

I believe Michael Essien will play for Ghana in next game

Coach Goran Stevanovic expects Chelsea man to return

goal.com - The Serbian tactician revealed that he tried to tempt Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck to represent the Black Stars 'various times'

Ghana manager Goran Stevanovic is confident Michael Essien will return to the national team for their next game.

The Chelsea midfielder watched from the stands at Wembley tonight as the Black Stars came from a goal down to steal a memorable 1-1 draw.

Essien made himself unavailable for selection last August following a series of injury setbacks suffered on national team duty, which culminated in ruling him out of the World Cup. He has not played for Ghana since Stevanovic took charge in January.

But the Serbian told reporters: “I have spoken to Michael Essien several times. He is here with us [at Wembley] and I profoundly believe in the next game he will be here with us playing.

“I said I don’t want to speak about players who missed tonight. Maybe I can say we missed Michael Essien and other players like Kevin-Prince Boateng.

“But I think people tonight enjoyed a fantastic game. In the first half England were the better team. I’m sorry we didn’t play better. In the second half my team put in a very good effort and performance and passed the ball much better.

“Playing against England at Wembley is very tough for us but a great inspiration for a lot of teams. I don’t want to make excuses but in three days we travelled a lot and tonight we do our best.”

Stevanovic also revealed that he had tried to persuade Danny Welbeck, whose parents are from Ghana, to play for the Black Stars.

“I asked for him at various times,” explained the manager. “It is possible to play for Ghana but unfortunately tonight he played for England. I’m sorry for us because he is a very good player. I tried to speak to him but now it is impossible.”

Asked about the amazing reception given to his team by the 20,000-plus Ghana supporters at Wembley, Stevanovic said: “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. They are the best fans around the world.”

Neymar: I dream of move to Chelsea

NEYMAR insists his dream £30m move to Chelsea could be ON this summer.

dailystar - Chelsea had a £25m bid rejected last August for Neymar, who went on to sign a new contract with his club in Brazil.

But in a clear ‘come-and-get-me’ plea, Neymar claims he still has his heart set on joining Chelsea.

And Brazil’s new golden boy is already planning to hold talks about his future should Carlo Ancelotti’s side come back in for him in the transfer window.

Neymar, 19, said: “When the moment comes, we are going to sit with my family. We are going to think about it and discuss the options.

“Last year, when Chelsea came, we sat together and we thought it wasn’t the time yet.

“If it happens this year, we are going to sit again and going to discuss about it.

“Chelsea’s a great club. It’s a dream of every player to play at Chelsea. If one day it ­happens, I will be very happy to come.”

Chelsea already have David Luiz, Ramires and Alex and are keen to add another Brazilian to their squad.

Santos threatened to report Chelsea to FIFA after reports surfaced that Blues chairman Bruce Buck met the player and his agent last summer without their permission.

But that has not deterred the Londoners, who regard Neymar as one of the hottest ­prospects in world football.

They are likely to face competition from Real Madrid when the transfer window reopens, but will be encouraged by the noises coming out of the Neymar camp.

The winger showed his potential by scoring both goals in Brazil’s friendly win over Scotland at the Emirates on Sunday.

That took his tally for the five-time World Cup winners to three in three games.

A German teenager yesterday admitted that he threw the banana that sparked a racism storm involving Neymar.

However, police are now satisfied there was no racist intent.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres says Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United is too close to call.

The sides meet in a repeat of the 2008 final, with the first leg at Stamford Bridge a week today.

Asked about Chelsea’s chances of ending their long wait for Champions League glory, Torres said: “I think it depends on whether or not we get past Manchester United in the quarter-finals, which is 50-50.

“I would love to play in the European Cup Final, against a side from Spain.”