The last time we saw the manager he was atop a double-decker bus singing his heart out having just won the Barclays Premier League and FA Cup in his first season.
Now after a few weeks off it is back to work again as he aims to build on those successes, and although he is without his full complement of players for the commencement of pre-season preparations, the manager's mood is extremely positive.
'We started on Monday, last year we started at the same time and we need maybe five weeks to prepare the team, to do the best physical preparation,' the Italian explained. 'We will have the other players on July 22 and 26, but for the first games of pre-season they will not be involved.'
That means our first fixture with Crystal Palace on July 17 will see us without 11 first-teamers still on holiday, though coming into the group will be Yossi Benayoun, who joined up with the squad yesterday, as well as a number of youngsters who have either been enjoying loan spells away from Chelsea, or partaking in FA Youth Cup successes.
'It could be a little different this year, a little difficult because we don't have all the players to start the season but we can still do a good job,' Ancelotti said.
'Benayoun I think is a good player, we need to have a player with quality who can play in the midfield.
'He can play in every position in midfield and for this I think he will be a very good player for us for next season.'
It may be just over a month away, but like pre-season, the start of the new campaign will be here before we know it. Ancelotti will be sure to have his men ready.
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