Ancelotti: First Week Report.

Since last speaking publicly, Carlo Ancelotti has begun the important work of preparing his new charges for the long campaign ahead.

It is a time a coach relishes as he begins to stamp his mark on a team and learn everything he needs to know about his squad.

The group of players whose June international fixtures were completed the latest - the Africans - rejoined the rest of the Chelsea players at Cobham on Monday and with the first pre-season fixture less than a week away, Chelseafc.com joined the manager on the balcony outside his office, equipment laid out on pitches in view down below ahead of his next training session, to hear his first impressions.

One week in to your work with the players, how has it been going?

The first week was very good training, very good mental attitude from the players. I have met very professional players. I thought this would be the case and really I have seen this. The players have been working very hard in the training. I am very happy after one week for this because to have a good mental attitude is the first important thing for a team.

You say you were expecting a professional attitude but has anything surprised you so far?

Here in the training facilities there is a very good organisation and this was unexpected because you don't have the chance to know before. It is organised on the pitch, organised in the facilities, this maybe is the surprise.

Training has shown you to be the type of manager who likes to be out there coaching directly.

Yes I like to do this. I like to stay on the pitch to work with the players and not only on the pitch. I like to stay in the dressing room and I want to improve the relationship with the players.

Is the planning and organisation of the training routines all yours?

We organise together, we do this with the physical trainer [Glen Driscoll], with Ray [Wilkins], with Paul [Clement], with the doctor. We have a meeting two hours before training and we decide what we are going to do.

Are you still looking to bring in another assistant coach?

No. I am very happy to work with Ray and Paul and naturally I want to improve the relationship. I think the state now is very good. At the moment there is no problem.

How will this week be different to last week?

Now it is very different because I have begun to know the people, begun to know the organisation. It is very different now, it is more easy now because I improve my English and for me now it is better for understanding. The first day it was difficult to speak English on the pitch and now I am more relaxed and more confident.

When will you start tactical work with the team?

Every day we will do something because I want to have a team that when they go on the pitch they know very well what to do. Every day I put in exercise to improve the quality of the team and of the play.

By the time of the game in Seattle, will anyone watching be able to see the way you want the team to play in the season ahead?

I don't want to change too many things. It is more fine tuning. This was a great team before my arrival and I want to put something to improve the team. I know very well that the last years Chelsea was a great team. I want to do little steps - little by little.

Are the new players, Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge and Yuri Zhirkov, settling in well?

Yes, no problem. They work very well. They have a good relationship with other players and I see here that there is a good relationship between the players, a very good team spirit. There are some players that are important for this team, Terry, Lampard, Cole, very important.

On Thursday you embark on the tour of America. Are you a manager who likes to take some of the very young players along for experience?

I saw in this week the young players and there is very good talent. They are very young but they work with us, with the first team, and it is good experience. We don't know yet but maybe one or two can come.

Milan frequently went to America in the summer, several times playing Chelsea there. Is the United States a good venue for pre-season?

For a good pre-season you have to start by training for 10 days and after this you have to play friendly matches. Why not in America?

Ending on a personal note, how are you enjoying living in England?

Very good, no problem. I live in a very good hotel with plenty of greenery. I don't like so much the cities. I like to stay in the country but I went in London two times and London is a beautiful city and we have found good restaurants. We will find better restaurants for sure.

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By the time of the game in Seattle, will anyone watching be able to see the way you want the team to play in the season ahead?

I don't want to change too many things. It is more fine tuning. This was a great team before my arrival and I want to put something to improve the team. I know very well that the last years Chelsea was a great team. I want to do little steps - little by little.

Doesn't seem like we'll see a big change formation/playing style wise.

Doesn't seem like we'll see a big change formation/playing style wise.

PR bullsh*t - the curse of the modern world (you can almost hear the prompts)! We won't have any clarification in an interview conducted for our official site.

Ending on a personal note, how are you enjoying living in England?

Very good, no problem. I live in a very good hotel with plenty of greenery. I don't like so much the cities. I like to stay in the country but I went in London two times and London is a beautiful city and we have found good restaurants. We will find better restaurants for sure.

Lol, all he cares about is his food, forget buying a house or his family...its all about the restaurants!!

Lets just hope it is not Scolari grove amada chill out session number two and he gets these guys fit and fighting to get on the pitch. Put some spirit into these players and the team is unbeatable.

I have high hopes for this season what with Joey Cole back, Drogba and Essien fully fit. Lets just hope everyone stays fit, I predict it will be tight at the top for quite some time, definitely until November. City will make a good start but just watch them fade into obscurity as their back 4 crumbles. No wonder they are going after JT.

We will find better restaurants for sure.

Oh I don't doubt that you fat bar steward...!! I love that guy...