Ancelotti primed for League battle

Carlo Ancelotti feels his new-look Chelsea team are ready for the start of the season after beating Manchester United on penalties to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley.

The Barclays Premier League champions had dominated after taking an early lead through Nani, who later went off injured with a shoulder problem.

However, Italian coach Ancelotti made several tactical changes during the second half which paid off as his men fought back through Ricardo Carvalho and went ahead following a controversial goal by Frank Lampard.

A stoppage-time effort from England striker Wayne Rooney meant the match would be settled by a shoot-out, in which Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra saw weak efforts saved by Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech to give Ancelotti his first piece of silverware.

“It is an important start to the season because we have changed the way the team plays a bit,” said the Chelsea manager.

“We found it difficult, but we were better in the second half when we put more strength on the pitch.”