Blues ready to bring trophy back to the Bridge...
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident that his team possess the necessary quality to win the Champions League this season.The current Premier League leaders launch their latest campaign in the prestigious European competition this week, at Stamford Bridge against Porto.
The Blues have done well in the competition in recent seasons, but the closest they have come to actually winning the trophy was the 2008 final defeat on penalties to Manchester United in Moscow. Ancelotti, though, is anticipating better things this season.
"Chelsea have been in the semi-finals most in the last six years," the Italian, reportedly brought to the club by owner Roman Abramovich because of his skill in building sides capable of continental success, told Sky Sports.
"They haven't won it, but they have come very close. Two years ago, they were one penalty away from winning it.
"Now the conditions are right for us to try again."
One player Ancelotti would apparently have liked to bring to Stamford Bridge in order to boost their Champions League challenge is Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan, but the coach now accepts that things need to move on as he has other players already at the club who can play in the same position as the Italian midfielder.
He added: "We have players to fulfil that role. We've tried John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien and Deco. Pirlo can't play like Mikel, and Mikel can't play like Pirlo."
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