Ancelotti: No truth in Coentrao rumours

CARLO ANCELOTTI has branded suggestions he was eyeing Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao as a replacement for Ashley Cole as “totally rubbish”.

There have been reports the Premier League champions would be prepared to sell Cole to Real Madrid, with Portugal counterpart Coentrao drafted in.

But Ancelotti dismissed this out of hand yesterday, saying: “It’s not true, totally rubbish.”

Cole has reportedly been unsettled at Stamford Bridge following recent revelations about his private life but Ancelotti has repeatedly insisted he has no intention of selling “the best left-back in the world”.

One Benfica player who is on the brink of completing a move to Chelsea is midfielder Ramires. But the €22m transfer appears unlikely to be wrapped up in time for the Brazil star to feature in tomorrow’s Community Shield.

Chelsea’s only summer signing to date has been Yossi Benayoun, while Michael Ballack and Joe Cole have been allowed to leave.

“After a fantastic season, it was very difficult to change this squad,” Ancelotti said. “We were totally agreed to maintain this squad. To put some young players in this squad from our academy, this was our aim. After a fantastic season, we could repeat the same season this year with these players.”

Ancelotti also refused to comment on Manchester United’s lack of transfer activity this summer.

“I don’t want to speak about the behaviour of Manchester United in the market, because it’s not my issue,” he said.