Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes that the club is benefiting from England's ouster from the 2010 World Cup as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have all looked in good shape.
Midfielder Frank Lampard could miss champions Chelsea's Premier League opener at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Chelsea closed on the Premier League title when a first-half header from Nicolas Anelka secured a gritty 1-0 win over a fiercely resilient Bolton Wanderers side on Tuesday.
Bookies have placed Premier League leaders Chelsea as the new clear favourites with 3-1 odds to retain the FA Cup following Sunday's fourth-round draw.
Former European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko has agreed to rejoin Dynamo Kiev from Chelsea.
Frank Lampard passed the 150-goal milestone for Chelsea on Saturday with four goals in a 7-1 hammering of Aston Villa as Carlo Ancelotti's side roared back to the top of the English Premier League.
The former Paris St Germain manager will be presented on Wednesday and will replace Jose Mourinho who left at the end of last season to join Chelsea.
Chelsea's hopes of retaining the Premier League title looked forlorn and Carlo Ancelotti's future equally bleak on Wednesday as the champions' fall from grace continued with a 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
English Premier League leaders Chelsea could only draw 1-1 at relegation-threatened Hull City on Tuesday as they squandered the chance to move four points clear of Manchester United in the title race. Didier Drogba's free kick shortly before halftime cancelled out Hull's opener scored by Steven Mouyokolo but Chelsea could not force the winner after the break despite late pressure.
Napoli will not allow questions about coach Rafael Benitez's future at a news conference on Thursday amid widespread expectations the Spaniard is poised to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
Chelsea got their hands on the first trophy of the English season on Sunday when they beat Manchester United on penalties to win the curtain-raising Community Shield after a lively Wembley encounter had ended 2-2.
Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Portugal's Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager on Wednesday as the 33-year-old, who resigned from Porto on Tuesday, agreed to a three-year contract. Villas-Boas, who led Porto to a domestic double as well as winning the Europa League last season, replaces Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked in May after failing to win a trophy in his second season.
Since the billionaire from Russia took control of the London club in 2003, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have all left Stamford Bridge after failing to reach the Holy Grail.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is almost back to full fitness after being diagnosed with malaria, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea came from behind to win 3-1 at Sunderland on Tuesday and make it two wins from two in the Premier League.
After failing their first big test of the season by losing 1-0 at Manchester City last week, champions Chelsea face another tough examination when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Chelsea have given under-fire captain John Terry several days off and he will miss Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Championship (second division) side Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea must avenge their 2008 Champions League final defeat by Manchester United or face a trophyless season if they lose the all-English quarter-final which starts at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday (1845 GMT).
New signing Yuri Zhirkov smashed a 69th minute winner from 20 metres out to give Chelsea a 2-1 victory over their manager Carlo Ancelotti's former club AC Milan in a friendly on Friday.
Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Portugal's Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager on Wednesday as the 33-year-old, who resigned from Porto on Tuesday, agreed to a three-year contract. A fact file on the manager.
Chelsea's perfect start to the season under new manager Carlo Ancelotti came to a surprise end on Saturday when the Premier League leaders lost 3-1 at Wigan Athletic and had goalkeeper Petr Cech sent off.
Andre Villas-Boas is unsure if he has the backing of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and wonders if he will be sacked in the same way as predecessor Carlo Ancelotti was last May, the Portuguese coach said on Monday.
Chelsea's title hopes were boosted on Thursday when they learned that injured defender Ashley Cole was likely to return for the last three games of the season.
Chelsea secured the Premier League crown in magnificent fashion on Sunday with an 8-0 thrashing of 10-man Wigan Athletic in a party atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.
"Chelsea Football Club and Antonio Conte have parted company," the London outfit said on their website.
Chelsea reacted angrily on Friday to newspaper reports that Carlo Ancelotti was set to replace manager Antonio Conte and that former coach Steve Holland has received texts from unhappy players who say they are missing him.
Chelsea won their first competitive match under coach Mauricio Pochettino with a 3-0 home victory over Premier League new boys Luton Town.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Manchester United completed their first home and away Premier League double over Manchester City since the Alex Ferguson era with a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.. Earlier, two goals in each half from a rampant Chelsea earned them a 4-0 victory over Carlo Ancelotti's Everton, cementing their place in the Premier League's top four.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
"The result of the first leg, in this aspect, puts us a little in doubt. We will try to go all in out there from the first minute, but we have more questions and responsibility than our rival."
Thousands of Chelsea fans turning out in west London to celebrate winning the Premier League title on Monday were told to prepare for more success next season by manager Jose Mourinho.
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he wants to return to management at the start of next season and hinted that he would relish the chance to take charge of Manchester United in the future.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has targeted Didier Drogba, Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o or Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor as potential signings.
Brazilian teenage striker Endrick came off the bench to score two goals in extra time and help Real Madrid rescue a hard-fought 5-2 win over Celta Vigo.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was unable to be heard as a witness at Serie A's match-fixing trial on Tuesday but that did not stop a significant development in a saga worrying Inter Milan fans.
With the Premier League season kicking off on Saturday we look at the prospects of the 20 top-flight clubs.
Champions Chelsea demolished West Bromwich Albion 6-0 on Saturday, shrugging off poor pre-season form to launch their Premier League campaign in style.
Holders Real Madrid breezed past Chelsea into the semi-finals of the Champions League with Rodrygo's double securing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Italian Antonio Conte was named as Chelsea's new head coach with a three-year contract, the outgoing Premier League champions announced on Monday.
