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Carlo Ancelotti has been talking in depth about this weekend's opponents and his previous encounters with their manager, Alex Ferguson.

The Italian has crossed swords in a football sense with the Scot as Juventus and AC Milan manager. Now he has been giving his fully attention once more to how the beat the side from Old Trafford.

To that end, Ancelotti believes Man United's most recent defeat, at Anfield last month, is one his team must study going into Sunday's clash.

'I think that Liverpool did a fantastic match, a strong match, and put a lot of pressure on the pitch,' Ancelotti analyses

'They won because of this, because they didn't give the possibility to Manchester United to play like they want to play.

'This is a good lesson for us. Manchester can suffer the pressure on their midfielders.

'But I don't work to play against a weakness [in the opposition],' he continues. 'We want to play to put on the pitch our quality.'

In other words, don't expect a Chelsea approach noticeably different to the one that has earned so many good results this season.

'The best thing to play against Man United is to maintain balance because they have a good defence and fantastic strikers,' the Chelsea manager says.

'For me [Wayne] Rooney is one of the most intelligent strikers in the world and it is very dangerous to play against him. Without [injured] Rio Ferdinand they lose something but also [Jonny] Evans and [John] O'Shea are very good centre-backs.'

Ferguson got the better of Ancelotti in their first contest, the famous Champions League semi-final of 1999. In the first leg, Juventus were denied a win at Old Trafford by a last-minute goal. Then 2-0 up in Turin, they allowed the eventual tournament winners that season to comeback and win 3-2.

With Milan, Ancelotti had far more success. While Chelsea were enjoying our epic duel with Barcelona in 2005, his side were winning 1-0 in Manchester and then by the same score in the San Siro, Hernán Crespo, on-loan from Chelsea, netting both times.

In 2007, on the way to winning the European Cup themselves, Milan lost the away leg 3-2 but triumphed 3-0 at home.

'There was a particular atmosphere created after the first match,' recalls Ancelotti, 'because we lost in the first leg in the last minute and that goal forced my team to play attack from the start in the second leg. At the same time Man United thought to defend and after 30 minutes, we were leading 2-0.'

It was during that first Man United v Juve tie that Ancelotti encountered the famous Fergie post-match invitation.

'He offered me a glass of wine and normally in Italy after the match you are a little bit anxious. I appreciated this. They had drawn with us in the last minute and I was a little bit angry and after the red wine it is better!

'I gave him a bottle of my wine, a Brunello, after Milan against Manchester United.

'Now in my office I have red wine and beer. Whatever he wants, I can do. I think he prefers red wine, me also. To maintain a good relationship with the other coaches is a good thing. In Italy we are not used to this.'


Phone Extra-Time on Chelsea TV at 6.30pm on Sunday with your thoughts on the game.

Chelsea players welcomed members of the armed forces who have been deployed in Afghanistan to Cobham to mark the start of the club's support for the 2009 Poppy Appeal.

The visit was part of the club's backing for the annual fundraising by the Royal British Legion that will include events before tomorrow's match versus Manchester United, plus poppies embroidered on the players' shirts.

John Terry and Joe Cole were among the players who greeted the servicemen at the training ground. Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, a big Chelsea supporter who lost both legs and an arm while on duty for the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan was one of them. 

This year's Poppy Appeal is carrying the message that as well as remembering those who served in past conflicts, the Royal British Legion also provides support for veterans of current campaigns.

'Chelsea, as a club and as individuals, has got fully behind the Appeal,' says Terry.

'We want the veterans to have the recognition and support they fully deserve. They're the people who are putting their lives on the line for us.'

The Chelsea captain had previously met Lance Corporal Neathway at the Millie Awards, the recently inaugurated recognition of those who have shown remarkable bravery and courage in action.

'Getting to know people like Tom and hearing about what he has been through is unbelievable,' Terry says. 'When I first spoke to him, he told me he couldn't wait to get back and that is the determination and the courage of these guys. They are a real pleasure to meet.'

Lance Corporal Neathway welcomes football's backing of the Poppy Appeal.

'It does still cover the First and Second World Wars but Afghanistan comes under the same umbrella.

'The players are on the newspaper back pages every day and for them to support us shows everyone should support the Appeal.'

'We need around £60 million to maintain the level of support we have going,' explains Graham Akins from the British Legion.

'We support over 100,000 people a year and it is important we are there for them, helping them readjust into civilian life, giving them any financial or other advice they need.

'This year we are focusing on the fact the Poppy Appeal is there for people who are coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq today, because they are going to need us now and throughout their lives.

'A lot of people think the Appeal is remembrance of the World Wars. It is that but it is also to remember people from now and support those people. It is great that Chelsea get involved.'

Joe Cole in his youth accompanied his grandfather to his local British Legion headquarters on Remembrance Sunday.

'The Poppy Appeal is a great way for people to get involved,' says our midfielder.

'Chelsea are right behind it and if there is a good cause to get behind, this is the one. It shows what a great nation we are that we look after our war heroes.'

'It is the first time we have had poppies on our shirts,' adds Terry. 'It gives it the recognition it deserves and it is good it has fallen on such a great occasion as Chelsea versus Man United, with a lot of people watching.'

Lance Corporal Neathway will be at the game and is confident of a good result.

'We are playing well and are a strong side,' he says. 'It will be awesome just to smash them!'

The players' shirts will be auctioned after the game with the proceeds going to the British Legion. Details of the auction will be announced early next week.

Around the stadium on Sunday there will be 50 members of the Armed Forces collecting for The 2009 Poppy Appeal.

Chelsea has invited 150 military personnel past and present to watch Sunday's match. Also invited are Conor, the son, and Natalie, the ex-partner of Michael Lockett, the most highly-decorated British solider to die in Afghanistan. Michael was a dedicated Chelsea fan, as is Conor.

Please arrive early in the stadium and take your seat in good time as a number of events will be taking place on the pitch to mark Remembrance Sunday:

• The Chelsea and Manchester United players will form a guard of honour on the halfway line.
• A procession of Chelsea Pensioners and Royal British Legion troops will walk out onto the pitch.
• After the coin toss the players, troops and fans will observe a minute's silence.
  

Click for more information on the 2009 Poppy Appeal.

Also shown in picture with Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda are Anil Gurung, Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, Major Stu Russell and Sergeant Major Bob Toomey.

Chelsea will not automatically sign new players in the January window according to the manager now there is a stay on Fifa's ban .

Carlo Ancelotti is pleased he now has the option to strengthen the squad this season but will wait to decide whether to exercise it or not.

'It is good for the club because it is a decision that gives us the possibility to buy new players if necessary,' he said in reaction to the news from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, 'but at the moment I think it is not necessary.'

He is unconcerned that should Chelsea not sign players in January and then fail in appeal against the two-window transfer ban, summer 2011 would be the next opportunity to register fresh players.

'Now for us it is not a big problem. Our aim now is to maintain in good condition the players because we have a big squad. My experience is that I don't have a problem about old players. I trained players sometimes who were 40-years-old. These Chelsea players have a lot of time to play for me.'

At the younger end of the age spectrum, Ancelotti has announced that 18-year-old Gael Kakuta, whose personal suspension has also had a stay placed upon it, will play in the Reserves at home to Fulham on Monday night, a game that will be shown live on Chelsea TV.

Chelsea's Under 18s side secured another home win at a chilly Cobham today as they saw off visitors Portsmouth.

Goals came from Bobby Devyne, Billy Knott (pictured) and Aliu Djalo as Chelsea put ourselves back in the lead following a Portsmouth equaliser in the first half.

Despite the final score however, the game was a fairly uneventful affair and the Blues struggled to compete with a tough Pompey performance.

It took 19 minutes for the deadlock to be broken when some beautiful football from Chelsea left the Portsmouth defence confused, giving Knott time to send a cross skimming along the line for a determined Devyne to slide onto, tapping in with ease.

Within four minutes Portsmouth had equalised. James Jannings leapt high to head a dangerous cross beyond the line at the far post while Chelsea keeper Aldi Haxhia could only watch.

The half would finish in Chelsea's favour when Deen-Conteh made a productive run down the left flank to win a corner. The subsequent ball was sent in by Anton Rodgers for Marco Mitrovic to try and head.

When his attempt was blocked the ball span out to Knott who smashed home a trademark left-footed strike which ricocheted off the Portsmouth defence and into the goal. It is the fourth game running Knott has scored in.

Dermot Drummy made two changes at half time, replacing Mitrovic with Philipp Prosenik and Rodgers with James Ashton.

Further into the half Nathaniel Chalobah (fresh from an England Under 17s qualification tournament) made his Under 18 debut replacing Tom Hayden in the back line.

But despite the changes, the second half didn't see much activity as the two midfields battled for possession.

It wasn't until the 68th minute that Chelsea would increase the lead and this time it was captain Djalo finding the net.

Knott had released a cross destined for Prosenik, but when the ball was blocked it fell to Djalo just inside the box. He expertly drilled home a shot into the bottom right.

Devyne and Knott then had chances, feeding off balls from Ashton and Deen-Conteh respectively, but it was Portsmouth who would score the final goal.

With 78 minutes played, Pablo Navas launched a wonder strike past Haxhia from 25 yards out, beating the Chelsea keeper who could only watch as the ball hit the net.

The Blues immediately retaliated when Deen-Conteh broke once again, curling a cross towards the far post where Prosenik connected cleanly. Unfortunately he only managed to head into Tommy Smith's hands between the Pompey posts for the last chance of the game.

'A 3-2 win in terms of the table keeps us up there,' said Drummy after the game, 'but I'm not happy, we can play better than that.

'It wasn't the standard we have been setting this season and fortunately the opposition let us into the game a little, Billy Knott did play well though.'

Chelsea (4-3-3): Aldi Haxhia; Ben Sampayo, Tom Hayden (Nathaniel Chalobah 59), Kenny Strickland, Aziz Deen-Conteh; Anton Rodgers (James Ashton h-t), George Saville, Aliu Djalo (c); Bobby Devyne, Marco Mitrovic (Philipp Prosenik h-t), Billy Knott.

Chelsea's red hot striker has had a busy seven days. He also has news of an important charity event.

The best goal I have seen this week…
The goal by Ryan Babel for Liverpool in the Champions League the day after we played in Madrid. That was a very good shot.

The best save I have seen this week…
Most people will not have seen this but Hilario made a fantastic save from me in training this week. He is at the top of his form.

The best training…
Gael Kakuta. He has been doing good when he has been training with us. He has been focused on trying to show that he can find a place in the squad.

The worst training…
On Thursday, the recovery training. Two days after the away game in the Champions League we feel really tired, more tired than one day after.

My favourite sound this week…
I've been to Jay-Z (pictured below) at Alexandra Palace. There were some good people there and that was nice. I have seen him before.

Best food this week…
The paella we had in Spain.

Best entertainment...
I will say something that has not happened yet. The best entertainment will be my charity dinner on 21^st November in London. We will raise some funds to try to build a hospital in Ivory Coast to give people more chances to get some treatment and medicine. We have a lot of people coming, some famous singers and it will be nice.

The news story that stands out…
The fact that Chelsea can bring some extra support in January and Gael Kakuta can play some games. It is important for him.

And a special mention goes to…
Bulldog and Alan [players' assistants] for bringing my paper to me every morning and always being there when you need them.

Click for more information on Drogba Foundation Charity Ball on Saturday 21^st November at The Dorchester Hotel, London.

On Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti faces what is likely to be the sternest test of his Chelsea team so far. He believes the challenge couldn't come on a better weekend.

The midweek draw in Spain apart, recent results could hardly be better and coupled with the confidence that brings is an injury report more healthy than for many, many months.

All the players are fit and available apart from Jose Bosingwa. The right-back's knee injury, that has kept him out since the defeat at Aston Villa, will be assessed over the next few days and a decision will then be made on the need for surgery.

'We play against a fantastic team, we know very well that it will be a very difficult match,' Ancelotti said on Friday afternoon as he looked ahead to playing the reigning champions.

'It is also a very interesting match and we are happy to play this team in this moment because I think we are doing very well. We are in good condition, we have a very good mental attitude and we are happy to play this game on Sunday. I think we can do our best at this moment.

Some are suggesting the game has also come at a good time because Man United are struggling for form and beatable. Ancelotti dismisses this notion.

'Manchester United has a very good team and like us, they have qualified in the Champions League and are doing very well in the Premier League. Every team is vulnerable, there is not a team that is invincible.'

If either side takes the three points this weekend then it will be portrayed as a significant result in the championship race, but the Chelsea manager is looking beyond just Chelsea and Man United, although not as far down the division as Liverpool.

'I also think Arsenal has a good possibility to arrive in first place,' he said. 'In this moment we cannot think of Liverpool to win because they are behind, but Arsenal has a very good team and a very good chance.'

Ancelotti has also commented on Ron Gourlay's stated aim for Chelsea in the Champions League. The new chief executive this week told the press that the aspiration is to win the Champions League twice in the next five years.

'This is a very good motivation for us,' Ancelotti said. 'I had the luck to win two Champions Leagues in four years. I have one year more to try!'

Man United have ruled Rio Ferdinand (calf) and Ji-sung Park (knee) out of the match. Gary Neville is suspended and the long-term injured Owen Hargreaves is still not ready. Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov are likely to be available, the former having overcome a calf injury that has kept him out since the defeat to Liverpool, the latter having missed this week's Champions League game.
  

Click to buy the online version of the Matchday Programme.

As an experienced player on football's top stages, Deco believes this weekend's visit of Manchester United is as big as they come.

The former Barcelona playmaker has taken part in his fair share of important domestic clashes down the years, be it Porto v Benfica or Barcelona v Real Madrid, and insists this is an equally important fixture.

'It's a big one like Madrid v Barcelona, this kind of game is easy for the coach, he does not need to talk a lot about the game,' smiled the 32-year-old. 'Every player wants to play this kind of game and our confidence is good.

'I think it is difficult to play against us in our home, for any club. They will not be afraid because they are a very good team but they will respect us a lot. If we had to play at Old Trafford two points behind, we would not be afraid but would have respect.

'They know we are very good but they know they can win here. It is a big game we both want to win. For me it's good to be playing at the moment but and I don't know if I will play, but if I do I can do my best.'

Deco's Portuguese international team-mate Nani may well be in the United line-up on Sunday, but the Chelsea man believes it is unfair to expect him to have the same effect as compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, who departed for Spain in the summer.

'I think it is different. There is a pressure on Nani to replace Ronaldo which is difficult, but he has the quality,' debated the former Barça man. He is young and I think he can do well at Man U. Of course it is difficult to compare him with Ronaldo, this is not the best way. It is important for him to play and he is playing well.

'Any team wants to have the best players. Of course when a team loses an important player, one of the best in the world, it is difficult for them. Ronaldo is a fantastic player, but they still have a good squad with good players. And it isn't just Ronaldo, they lost Tevez who was also an important player.'

Of the traditional 'Top Four', it was only Chelsea that did not lose such a key figure over the summer, and have been rewarded by the return to fitness of important players, such as Deco, since the beginning of the campaign.

If selected by manager Carlo Ancelotti, the little playmaker could just make a big impact.

Chelsea and Sunday's visitors have identical records from our league meetings in the Premier League era. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton examine the significance if the Blues move ahead this weekend.

TALKING POINTS
Chelsea have scored five more league goals than Manchester United so far this season - 28 to 23 - and only Arsenal have scored more than the Blues. A win for Chelsea would also open a gap of five points over last season's title-winners. How significant that lead would be at this juncture is debatable.

After 12 matches last season the gap was also five - and United went on to finish seven points clear of the Blues in May. It wasn't just defeats that killed off Chelsea's title challenge, it was the failure to force wins at home that was significant too.

Those deadlocks have been less of an issue so far under Carlo Ancelotti: amazingly, Wednesday's draw in Madrid was our first since the Community Shield against the Mancs in August. 

United have often been slow starters to the Premier League campaign. Speed out of the blocks was one of the improvements Sir Alex Ferguson insisted on when he admitted that the Chelsea of 2004-6 had 'raised the bar.'

It may not seem like it while their defence is so routinely criticised, but the Red Devils are performing much better at this stage than they did last season. Their 23 goals, 25 points and goal difference of +12 compares favourably the 20, 21 and 10 accrued in mid-November 2008.

Chelsea's year-on-year statistical improvement is more marginal: 27 goals, 26 points and a goal difference of 23 last season, 28, 27 and 20 this.

What Chelsea have to do is avoid a damaging run similar to last season, when two league wins in eight matches either side of Christmas left too much to do.

That sequence ended with a dispiriting defeat at Old Trafford. Although it is the same three points lost, the three points gained when playing a 'big four' opponent is always significant. Last season, for the first time in a while, Chelsea underperformed against our closest title rivals.

No victory was recorded until the 4-1 slaughter of Arsenal at the Emirates in the middle of May. This season, in our only meeting to date, we have already outclassed Liverpool; the Scousers, in turn, easily dispensed with United 2-0, and United have seen off Arsenal.

The tactical battle will be a fascinating element on Sunday, with the younger man at Chelsea having a more settled line-up than his 67-year-old opponent in the opposite dugout. Both will be well aware that the outcome of this match will be a marker for the season, but nothing more.

Should Arsenal win at Wolves (where they have not lost since 1978) they will go level with United, two points behind Chelsea, overnight. Liverpool have a few more days of lurid headlines before hosting Birmingham on Monday evening. They could be down to ninth by then, should results go against them. Brum are also unbeaten on their last three visits to Anfield.

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Aston Villa v Bolton 3pm
Blackburn v Portsmouth 3pm
Man City v Burnley 3pm
Tottenham v Sunderland 3pm
Wolves v Arsenal 5.30pm - ESPN
Sunday
Hull v Stoke 1.30pm - Sky Sports
West Ham v Everton 3pm
Wigan v Fulham 3pm
Chelsea v Man Utd 4pm - Sky Sports
Monday
Liverpool v Birmingham 8pm - ESPN

The race for the Premier League Golden Boot
Torres (Liverpool) 10
Drogba (Chelsea) 9
Bent (Sunderland) 8
Rooney (Man Utd) 7
Van Persie (Arsenal) 7
Cole (West Ham) 6
Defoe (Tottenham) 6
Saha (Everton) 6

There has been a change to the following fixtures' kick off times as they will now be broadcast live on television.

Sky Sports will be covering our away clash with Hull City, which takes place on Saturday 9 January and now kicks off at 12.45pm.

Then, ESPN will have full coverage of our away game against Burnley on Saturday 30 January, which now kicks off at 5.30pm.

Chelsea Football Club is aware that a number of fans, particularly in the West and Matthew Harding Stands, are disappointed with the time taken to access their seats through the turnstiles as kick-off time approaches.

To begin to address this, the club has introduced two new turnstiles ahead of the Manchester United game on Sunday, but is encouraging fans to arrive at the stadium early where once inside the stadium, they will be able to watch the Hull v Stoke match live.

This will be the first time the club has broadcast a game inside the stadium and we welcome fan feedback on the event. It will be shown on only one of the big screens but it can viewed on the TV screens in the concourses of the stands.

Chelsea would also like our fans to be inside Stamford Bridge well before kick-off to observe planned activities to mark Remembrance Sunday.

These include Chelsea and Manchester United players forming a guard of honour for a mixture of Chelsea Pensioners and serving military as they come out of the tunnel, as well as the traditional minute's silence.

Finance and operations director Chris Alexander says: 'The club takes the concerns of supporters seriously and we are looking at how the turnstile design can be modified to speed up access.

'Although any changes to the turnstiles will take time to implement, we have commenced the process and two new turnstiles will be operational in the Matthew Harding Stand at the Manchester United game. These will alleviate some of the pressure in this stand.'

It's recommended anyone attending a match arrives at the stadium at least 30 minutes prior to kick-off, at which time queuing is limited to only a few minutes.

Whenever there is an earlier televised fixture elsewhere, it will be broadcast on the big screen and in the concourses.

Kick-off for Chelsea v Manchester United is 4pm.

There have been further announcements made regarding our Barclays Premier League game against Arsenal on Sunday 29 November.

Seats for the away game will go on sale to season ticket holders with 72 loyalty points or more on Saturday 7 November (tomorrow). These are available online only.

On Monday 9 November, all remaining season ticket holders will be able to purchase a ticket for the game.

After that, on Tuesday 10 November, any remaining tickets will go on sale to members. Once again, the amount of points required to purchase a ticket will be announced no later than 6pm the day prior to sale.

Anyone heading to Stamford Bridge for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United may appreciate the following information.

If you're travelling by London Underground to get to the stadium then be aware the District Line will be closed between Turnham Green and Richmond and also between Earls Court and Edgware Road on Sunday.

There will be no service between Baker Street and Hammersmith on the Hammersmith and City Line, Stanmore and West Hampsteadon the Jubilee Line and Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate on the Metropolitan Line.

The entire Circle Line, Victoria Line and Waterloo and City Line will be closed this weekend.

Rail users should be aware there will be no First Capital Connect cross London service between St Pancras International and London Bridge/Herne Hill on Sunday.

There will be no National Express East Anglia trains between Liverpool Street and Harold Wood, while Tottenham Hale to Stratford services will be diverted to Liverpool Street via Hackney and will not serve Stratford.

Buses will replace Southeastern trains between London Cannon Street and Ashford International via Maidstone East will start/terminate at London Bridge. There will also be replacement buses running between New Cross and Lewisham, via St Johns and between Deptford and Westcombe Park.

Buses will also replace Southern trains between Balham and West Croydon via Crystal Palace while services are suspended between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction.

Anyone travelling by National Rail services are advised to check arrival and departure times by clicking here.

Anyone driving to the stadium will be pleased to hear there are no road works planned within the vicinity of the stadium, although you're advisde to check your route through either the AA or RAC websites before departure.

For more information on London Underground services, or roadworks in and around the capital, visit Transport for London.

In his first major interview since beginning life as chief executive, Ron Gourlay has discussed his past and his ways of working.

In addition to today's earlier announcements on potential naming rights associated with Stamford Bridge and a new position of supporter liaison manager, plus news on Joe Cole's contract talks, Gourlay has outlined part of the decision-making process and some of his goals.

Here are answers he gave to Chelsea TV's questions:

Tell us your background as a player in Scotland.
My footballing background goes back many years. I was a player in my younger days and I had a number of trials around some of the local teams, but never really made it onto the big stage. I was a big fan of football as well. I spent many seasons following Dundee with my dad. Charlie Cooke was my dad's hero and was at Dundee before he was Tommy Docherty's big Chelsea signing.

Would you have signed you as a player?
No. I was never the quickest. I was a goalscorer, I played semi-professional and then my Umbro job took me away an awful lot and training with teams died down a little bit.

It was a real opportunity at Umbro, it came along at the right time for me. Umbro at that time were very dominant in football, most of the football clubs north and south of the border had their kit sponsored by Umbro. So it gave me a real opportunity to get involved in football at that early stage

What will Peter Kenyon's role as non-executive director entail?
Peter will continue on the board and he is very influential in world football. He holds a number of key posts in Uefa and I think that's important for the club, to maintain that level of exposure and have a say at that level. How long that goes on for, who knows, but at this stage it is very important.

Peter is a very well-known figure in the game. While I have been around the game for a long time and have experience, I am not a face that is particularly well-known as far as the outside world is concerned. Obviously that will change and has changed a bit already.

After five managers in just over two years, you will be keen for some stability at management level and so far so good for Carlo Ancelotti.
It's a fantastic start but the whole stability and continuity is very important to me and the business going forwards. Carlo, at his last club, stability was part of the make-up. You are looking at a coach who has won the top competition twice as a coach and as a player as well. So I think confidence comes with stability in all the day-to-day goings on and there is a real buzz around Chelsea at the moment. That's thanks to Carlo and the support Carlo has around him.

Will you take more of a back seat in player recruitment?
As chief execuitve you have to be across everything that happens. You have a responsibility to deliver a strategy and all the objectives set by the business. That's my responsibility and you can't have one-foot-in, one-foot-out. I am across everything that happens. Whether I am involved in the detail of every agreement or every meeting that we have, then no, that's not going to be my business. Whether I am involved in every detail of every meeting that we have? No, that is not going to be the case.  

How often do you have dialogue with the owner?
Regularly. I think that's important and I encourage it. Communication is important for the business.

Will there be any change in the way major decisions on the football side are taken? How do we decide on player targets for example?
We have a football club board. The decisions are discussed in those board meetings and if there is an opportunity to buy a player who can take us forward and will fit into our team then we will decide on a case-by-case basis.

What can you tell us about the Kakuta case?
There is not a lot I can say as far as the legal system is concerned. I think we have a strong case and that appeal with be logged with the Court for Arbitration for Sport.

Do you think you'll reside over a good era at the football club?
Well, I've had a great start! It's going to be a challenge the next five years, I use the term 'the next five years' on the basis of the 10-year plan. We have set our goals very high. I would like to see us continue playing the exciting football we are playing and that's very close to the owner's heart.

We have to keep identifying young home-grown players and nurture them through our Academy, that's important. We have to continue to develop the facilities we have down at Cobham, develop our key core players that we have in place now. And the final piece for me is definitely fan engagement. They are the life blood of the football club and I am really keen to take that on to the next level because it is important in the growth of the club.

What would you consider as chief executive to be success?
We have got to continue winning trophies, that's the expectation of Chelsea Football Club. Every time we cross the white line it's to win football games. We are expected to compete in every competition we enter. That is how we have positioned ourselves as a football club and that's how we are portrayed as a football club. There's lots of energy around the place and we are in a good position to support the coach and deliver everything we are expecting to deliver.

On and off the field we have a fantastic team and together, it's key that we work together. We will go onto the next level I am sure.

In his exclusive interview with Chelsea TV, new chief executive Ron Gourlay has been explaining how he aims to appoint a supporter liaison manager to aid dialogue between the club and our fans.

Gourlay, who has sat on the Fans' Forums in recent years, outlined an increase in discussion with supporters as one of his primary objectives, referencing ticket pricing as an area where we have succeeded in recent times.

'We've frozen the prices for four years now and that has been very well received by the fans,' he said.

'I have been very close to the Fans' Forum in the last three or four years and it has been a great platform to understand with more insight into what the fans want from their football club. What I wanted to do was get closer and one of the changes is that I will introduce a new role into the business which will be supporter liaison manager.

'That will be a key role working with the fans, getting to understand more the needs of the fans. We do lots of requests already, we give free away travel to games, cut ticket prices, we can't do all of the things requested but it will be good to see which ones the fans want more and which ones are more important.

'Working more closely domestically with the fans and nationally with our supporters groups and our international membership, we have a lot of people out there who will never come to see us play at Stamford Bridge, so how do we connect with some of these fans and make them feel part of their football club.'

And what ideas does he have regarding these developments?

'More focus groups, a greater interaction with the fans on an international and domestic basis, understanding more of the needs of the fans from their football club and understanding more where they would like to see their membership go.'

Ron Gourlay has confirmed the club is in talks over a new contract with Joe Cole as our number 10 heads towards his 28th birthday.

The midfielder will celebrate the day of his birth on Sunday when we host Manchester United and Gourlay insists negotiations have already begun to keep him at the Blues next season.

A lifelong Chelsea fan, Cole first arrived at the Bridge as a player in 2003, following West Ham's relegation. It was in east London that the spritely youngster had been made captain before the call west beckoned.

During his time at the club, Cole has netted 37 goals and cemented his place in both the side and the fans' hearts.

Which is why, as he spoke exclusively to Chelsea TV, our new chief executive explained where the contract situation currently stands.

'We are already in discussions with Joe,' said Gourlay.

'The situation is that he is coming to the end of his contract, he is 28-years-old on the day of the Manchester United game and we're entering into the period where Joe is looking to negotiate his new contract.

'That process has started, Joe has made it very clear that he wants to stay with the football club and I'm sure in the coming months we will be able to work something out.'

Cole is one of the only long-standing players in the squad who has not yet signed contract extensions.

'We are in a good condition as far as that side is concerned,' noted Gourlay.

'The only thing we have to deal with is the African Cup which is coming up and there's a potential we'll lose four key players for six to eight games, depending on how far we go in the Carling Cup and FA Cup, but we are in good shape so long as we can keep the players fit.'

New Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has revealed that the club would consider naming rights for Stamford Bridge.

During an exclusive interview with Chelsea TV tonight, his first since succeeding Peter Kenyon, Gourlay made it clear that such a deal would be possible on the proviso the name Stamford Bridge was retained in any agreement with a suitable blue-chip company.

'Retaining the heritage of the stadium is paramount to considering such a move but we think that is achievable and on that basis we would enter into discussions over naming rights with the right partner for Chelsea,' said Gourlay.

'We understand that this is a sensitive issue for our fans and that is why we would keep the name Stamford Bridge in any deal.

'What we are not prepared to happen, and I am sure our fans will appreciate this, is allow our rival clubs in England and Europe to gain a competitive advantage over us in terms of the revenue they can generate through either expanding the capacity of their existing stadia or moving to a new stadium and then invest that upside in their team or the club.

'Those possibilities are not open to Chelsea for the foreseeable future because of the restrictions in expanding our stadium and the issues around finding a new site, so that means we have to be creative and look at our sponsorship architecture and see if we can create new value and new opportunities that keeps us competitive.

'Our stadium does very well at the moment in competing with the bigger, and in some cases newer, stadia of our rivals. But they have more possibilities in the long run than we do. We cannot sell any more tickets to Chelsea fans as we sell out virtually every match within our limited capacity.

'The match day experience at Stamford Bridge and the relationship with our fans has improved greatly through initiatives such as our flexible ticketing policy for all cup matches, the freezing of non-hospitality ticket prices for the last four seasons for Premier League matches and subsidised or free travel to a significant number of away games.

'But we need to keep evolving and move the business forward to support the football side and the club generally. This is a potentially realistic way of doing that.'

You can watch more from that interview with Gourlay on Chelsea TV at 6.45pm

Being a player of the digital age, Frank Lampard is able to watch a new DVD chronicling his full Chelsea career. He talks to the official Chelsea website about cringing over his past and flourishing as a footballer.

It might be a blessing or it might be a curse but for the modern, top-level footballer, his entire career is recorded for posterity. That's every goal, every pass and tackle, and even every mistake.

No longer can the passage of time add an extra 10 yards to the memory of a special long-range goal that was smashed in, nor can it make a favourite flying winger the fastest thing ever to take to a football pitch when his deeds are retold many years down the line.

Would the legends of the pre-TV era like Hughie Gallacher, or stars of the Pathé News black-and-white years such as Roy Bentley be enhanced or diminished if later generations of fans could watch hours and hours of them in action?

Even as recently as two decades ago, major Chelsea action was not automatically recorded by TV or film cameras. For instance, and it's hard to imagine now, the goals from the famous 5-0 thrashing of Leeds in 1984 that put Chelsea back in the top division after a five-year wait will never be seen by anyone who was not there that afternoon.

But those days have long gone, and for the Frank Lampard generation of Premier League players, the archive is complete. Indeed some of it is aired regularly on digital TV channels or is available to view online on demand.

Having a digital-age career has allowed the production a new DVD - Super, Super Frank, chronicling his Chelsea years with exclusive interviews and every one of his goals available to view again.

For Frank, when he watched the DVD for the first time, some of the games and goals were very familiar indeed.

'I am a big watcher of old games actually,' he admits to the official Chelsea website.

'It is nice to look back at games since I've been at Chelsea, on Chelsea TV or on video. I've got a lot of good memories and it is good to see them and I even watch some mundane games from a few years ago, just to see how we were playing those days. Sometimes you forget little bits.

'I just flick through and if there is a game from a few years ago I'll watch it out of interest, if not the full 90 minutes then patches because your game, personally and as a team, definitely changes over the years.'

So what does the 31-year-old Frank think when he sees himself back in his West Ham days or shortly after his 2001 move to Stamford Bridge?

'I am quite critical. I think oh my God, I can't believe I'm making those mistake or moves. Sometimes it is quite cringey to see things you did and it is quite bad just to see how young you look and realise that the years have passed.

'You do realise that you have come a long way, particularly from the first season or two I was at Chelsea. It is nice to see the progress.'

Frank believes his teenage game was built on much the same principles as his football now - passing and trying to arrive in goalscoring positions - although he recalls being shorter and less athletic, finding it harder to get around the pitch. Stamina is something he had to work on.

His first season at Chelsea was a steady settling-in process rather than a big impact after a big money transfer. One of the early lessons he credits Claudio Ranieri with teaching him was more economy of movement.

'When I watch those old games, I see the different ways I did the running. With experience you run at different times. But it's not just that. My involvement in games in the first year or two here was a lot less than now.

'That is probably just general growing of yourself and confidence. You feel you can take more control of games.'

At the climax of a maiden year that yielded seven goals from 53 games, his burgeoning ability to be a major influence was showcased at Cardiff in the 2002 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. It should not be forgotten just how revered the Gunners' Patrick Vieira was at the time - widely considered to be the ultimate midfielder for the Premier League - yet although Chelsea ultimately lost the match, our number 8 had the better of his personal midfield duel with the Arsenal number 4.

'I like to look back at that game now because I felt I did well at the time. There were a few games in the second half of the season where I felt comfortable and thought this is what I can do. That match being a showpiece and against probably the best midfielder at the time, I was really up for the game.

'It had been a good end to a difficult first season at times and I really wanted to show it. A lot of fans said to me afterwards that it was the time they saw what I could bring to the club and that was a big stepping stone. It gave me a lot of confidence and I went away that summer to improve.'

Anyone who watches Frank's goals on the DVD should take note of his second of that second season - scored away at Southampton. Timing his run into the area to complete a passing move, he took Eidur Gudjohnsen's supply and calmly finished. It was the first example in a Chelsea shirt of what is now regarded the typical Frank Lampard goal.

'It's one of my favourites,' he acknowledges, 'because I was growing in confidence. I set my stall out with the goals I wanted to score, being involved in the build-up, arriving in the box and then the quality of the finish. It was something I have tried to emulate since then, and that's one of the first ones I can remember doing it.

'Sometimes you knock the ball about and stay a bit static and it doesn't look so impressive, but I started to run with the ball more in the middle of the park that season. Once you do that, things open up for you to make passes. So my assists and involvement in games came from that, my ability to run with the ball and then find a pass.'

By the fourth season José Mourinho had arrived, and both the former Blues boss and his main midfielder have spoken about discussions they had at the time on turning a very good player into a winner.

'It just involved self-confidence and a progression from what I'd been doing the season before, which had been a very good season for me with Ranieri,' Frank explains.

'We'd got to the semis of the Champions League and I felt I belonged. Mourinho took that on and I was fortunate to be in a team that was very strong with a fantastic manager, and we became winners as a group.

'Personally I pushed myself on again with more confidence and my game became a bit more complete.'

Long-range striking of the ball became more frequent - both in terms of shots on goal and passes, and then last season chipped attempts at the target became a new weapon, most wonderfully executed away to Hull City. As trophies were added to the collection, so were more skills.

'I still feel the need to add new things to my game now. I am very critical if I watch matches and I will always try to add stuff. I've had that throughout my career.'

We're still waiting for a lob at goal this season, but Frank promises it will come when his instincts tell him the moment is right. What has been on display recently, and last year too, is the type pass most associated in recent times with Ronaldinho - a look one way, play the ball the other way speciality. Is deep down there a touch of the showman in Frank - a player whose industry about the pitch is more likely to label him a traditional English-style midfielder, albeit a very accomplished one?

'I think there is,' he agrees. 'The basics in my game are hard work and attitude, but if I'm feeling on top of it then I enjoy trying a few things, whether it be a flick or a pass. I'm fortunate to play in a good team where there is a lot of strength around and if things are going well you can try things. When you are struggling you keep it simple.

'I've tried a couple of those [Ronaldinho-style] passes - some will come off and some won't. I wouldn't have had the confidence or the quality to do it as a youngster. Now with the movement we have around, the way defences are now - much tighter than they were - you have to try something different to open a defence. If you can throw in a dummy, look one way and pass the other, sometimes it can open them up.'

We'll have to wait to find out what the next new skill to be added to the Lampard armoury will be, taking him further away from the fresh-faced east Londoner he sees when he watches his early games on TV.

If the Frank Lampard of now could give the Frank Lampard of then a piece of advice, what would it be?

'I think I knew the path I wanted to take and I'm proud I had the mental belief to work hard and improve,' he responds. 'I was quite level-headed. I've slight off-the-field regrets I wish I'd never done, but that's what every youngster does and as I've got older I've learned about that.

'So I think I would say to do exactly as I did do, which was to work hard at every part of my game. Maybe I would say have more belief in yourself, because when I first came to Chelsea I was a bit in awe of certain players and the whole situation, which is why maybe it took me a while to settle in.'

So he wouldn't even advise against any of his haircuts he looks back upon?

'Only the really young West Ham days with the big curtains. It felt alright at the time but looking back it doesn't look so good. My haircut hasn't changed too much in the last four or five years and I don't think it will do!'

The Super, Super Frank DVD is an exclusive documentary in which the player looks back on his career at Chelsea to date, including his most important goals and achievements for the club.

The programme features interviews with current team-mates John Terry, Joe Cole, and Didier Drogba as well as the thoughts of Frank Lampard Snr, Gianfranco Zola and Ray Wilkins. Each reveals the man behind the player and explains what makes Frank Lampard such a special talent.

DVD extras include every goal he's scored for Chelsea as well as a quiz revealing how much the player remembers about his successes at the club.

It is available now in the Megastore at Stamford Bridge or via the Online Megastore, priced £17.99.

Click for news on Frank Lampard and John Terry appearing at the special Christmas Star on a Stool.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to follow in John Terry's footsteps and lift the Barclays Premier League Trophy?

Well now is your chance, because to celebrate their renewal of the Premier League sponsorship until 2013, Barclays are offering 20 fans from anywhere in the world the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win the Barclays Premier League trophy for a day.

To enter, simply enter your details at www.barclayshomewin.com before December 11, and you could have the chance to parade it around just like JT did in 2005 and 2006.

Florent Malouda believes the form of Didier Drogba can be the difference between ourselves and Manchester United on Sunday.

We enter the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge two points clear of our title rivals, with Drogba on top of his game, his brace against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday taking his season's tally to 12.

Malouda, who was also team-mates with the Ivorian at Guingamp in France, is not surprised at Drogba's purple patch.

'He has not changed, the fact he had a good pre-season without injuries can explain it, he is really happy and enjoying his form at the moment,' said the 29-year-old. 'He is training harder than ever and had some rest because of the ban, but is now back in the competition and scoring goals.

'He always believed in himself, even in the second division in France he was dreaming about it and preparing himself. Even at this level he is working harder and harder,' Malouda continued.

'I knew him from Guingamp and he has always been a leader, always speaking in the dressing room and bringing the team behind him. With JT and Lamps he is one of our world-class players and when he is like this every team has to fear him.'

Now Drogba will be looking for his first goal against United since netting the winner in the 2007 FA Cup Final, and Malouda is hoping that would be enough to secure a vital victory.

'We have no choice, we have to win because we are two points in front and we want to stay in front. It's going to be a big, big, big game and we have to play at our best level in front of our fans,' he insisted.

'We have a home record and we're trying to keep it. Before the international break it would be a good result to win at home. To be five points clear would be a good thing for us, we have never been five in front for a long time.'

There are of course plenty of games left in the title race, in which ground will invariably be gained and lost. Malouda admitted he has not yet begun looking up United's results.

'I think about our team and I'm not looking too much at the results of Man U,' he said. 'At the moment we are on top and if we keep on going like this and playing like we are we won't be far, but nobody can say who is going to win this title.'

Ticket sale dates for our fifth round Carling Cup game against Blackburn Rovers have been announced.

Seats for the game, which takes place at Ewood Park on Wednesday 2 December, will be available to supporters on the Uefa Away Scheme on Thursday 12 November.

Season ticket holders can then purchase a seat on Friday 13 November until 2pm on Sunday 15 November.

After that, members can secure their seat on Monday 16 November before season ticket holders and members can purchase an extra two tickets each on Tuesday 17 November.

The club will be operating discounted travel to Blackburn, two coaches a train will depart for the north at a cost of £10 return per person.

Coaches will depart Stamford Bridge at 12.30pm and Newport Pagnell from 2pm, full train times will be available through Thomas Cook nearer the game.

Tickets for the game cost £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s and over 65s.

In his first interview as chief executive of Chelsea Football Club and Ron Gourlay predicts a bright future for the Blues.

Speaking exclusively to Chelsea TV, Gourlay discusses his plans for the club and describes his new role in a 15 minute interview at 6.45pm.

'My priority is to continue the great work that has gone on the last five years,' explains Gourlay.

'We have the infrastructure, the strategy and the right people in the right place to deliver the objectives we want and that is key.'

This is the first chance for Chelsea fans to hear from our new chief executive after he took up the role at the beginning of the month.

Also on the club's official television channel tonight, Ray Wilkins looks ahead to the weekend's clash with Manchester United, offering his expert knowledge having played for both clubs, that's in Blues News at 6.30pm

There's also a look back over previous meetings with the title holders before a full training ground report and all the latest team news.

If you miss the first airing of Gourlay's interview, repeats will happen at 10.15pm tonight. It will also be replayed at 12 noon tomorrow and again at 9.15pm. 

There's a piece of good news for the Ladies this week following the League Cup semi-final draw.

The welcoming information is that Everton drew Arsenal at home, in a fixture that mirrors last season's semi-final, when the two sides were joint favourites to win the competition.

Chelsea on the other hand will host either Leeds or Blackburn Rovers in a game set to take place on Sunday 6 December.

There is also news regarding our Women's Premier League clashes with both Everton and Arsenal. We'll now host Arsenal this Sunday, 8 November, in the first 'big three' game of the season.

After that, our meeting with Everton will see us travel north on Sunday 15 November at 2pm.

This weekend's game will also kick off at 2pm and will be the perfect opportunity to steal points from last season's League winners, who only lost one game during that successful campaign.

Arsenal will be fresh from a win in Europe. The League Cup draw was followed up by the Gunners with a 3-0 win against Sparta Prague, which takes them one step closer to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League.

However, that scoreline is not quite as impressive as the Blues' previous win.

Chelsea received the League Cup news on the back of an outstandingly 8-0 thrashing of Bristol Academy, which continued the Ladies' successful start to the season.

Lianne Sanderson netted a hat-trick in the fixture, adding to captain Casey Stoney's opener.

There was an own-goal in the first half which left us with a 3-0 lead at the break before Dunia Susi, Sophie Perry and Emma Whitter all added to the scoreline.

Unfortunately the game finished with a Whitter dismissal after the forward was shown a red card for retaliating to a bad tackle.

The win did keep us in second place though, where we sit behind Sunderland, who have accumulated 19 points from 11 games, while our 16 from six leaves us three points behind.

Arsenal and Everton are in sixth and seventh respectfully, only goal difference separates the two, who have 12 points from four games.

This week's official club podcast Inside Chelsea looks back over a successful week for the Blues.

First there's another 4-0 thumping to relive as Chelsea travelled to Bolton for the Premier League match.

Then it's time to reminisce on a tough fixture in Madrid, which ended a draw and allowed the club progression into the knock-out stages of the competition.

Carlo Ancelotti is joined by Frank Lampard in reviewing the 4-0 away win on Saturday before Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole discuss the precious point we secured in Spain.

Inside Chelsea is available for download by clicking here, through the BBC website or iTunes.