Chelsea have just won the Community Shield trophy and even though it is not a very important one, it will, nevertheless, serve as a big confidence boost for the Blues. With both Manchester United and Liverpool looking weaker than last season, Chelsea seem to have a great opportunity to win back the Premiership title from United. First days under Carlo Ancelotti have been very promising and the Blues certainly look up to the job this season.
Last season proved Chelsea stars need a coach with authority and the one who can keep the players happy, while not letting Abramovich meddle into matters on the pitch. No wonder Hiddink fared much better than pitiful Scolari but Chelsea fans feared no man could ever replace Guss after the Dutchman returned to Russia. However, even though he was not everyone’s first choice, Carlo Ancelotti fits the bill perfectly as he isthe man who succeeded at Milan, working under mad man Berlusconi, who has his opinion on everything that happens at the club.
The first thing Ancelotti did at Stamford Bridge was to change the formation to 4-4-2 diamond, as he thought this style of play suited the players he had at his disposal. This produced excellent results in pre-season, while it also helped the Blues win the first trophy of the season. Chelsea looked extremely dangerous with Drogba and Anelka in attack, while Frank Lampard certainly looks much more dangerous when played higher up the pitch. Carvalho and Terry have restored the defensive partnership, which looks very good at the moment and if the Portuguese can stay fit this season, the Blues will definitely concede less than last season. Michael Essien will certainly provide great cover for the defenders, while his forward runs are simply inevitable. Lampard and Ballack will lead the creative department, while I expect Yuri Zhirkov to replace Malouda on the left once he gains match fitness.
Carlo Ancelotti managed to add a lot of steel to the team, which is something he brings from Serie A and Chelsea definitely look the most likely candidate for the Premiership title. The only problem is they lack some strength in depth and could struggle if one of the key players gets injured. Nevertheless, the Blues definitely have the most balanced team now that United and Liverpool have stayed without their key players, and Ancelotti certainly looks like the man who can lead this team to glory. This could be the last chance for Chelsea to win the Premier League before the title returns to Manchester and I don’t mean United.
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I agree. 4-4-2 formation is the right one for Chelsea. They have same squad like in the previous two years and this could be their season. United is weaker without Ronaldo, while Liverpool need half squad to claim the throne.