Andrew Fifield
 
Chelsea have always used the snipes and gripes of their detractors as fuel for their own achievements. Paranoia occasionally appears to be in-built at Stamford Bridge, yet as Carlo Ancelotti confronts the twin peaks of wrestling the Premier League from Manchester United and giving Roman Abramovich a first Champions League crown, he would do well to stoke his squad's persecution complex.

The west Londoners invariably surpass themselves when their critics are at their most vocal, so this could yet prove a vintage season. The attacks have already begun in earnest, centring on anything from Ancelotti's faltering English to Abramovich's waning interest, but perhaps the most pointed complaint - and, therefore, the one most likely to prick the egos in Chelsea's dressing room - centres on the folly of attempting to usurp United and Barcelona with a squad that should be making discreet enquiries over how to go about ordering a Stannah stair-lift.

Once again, Chelsea's hopes rest on the same old faces in the spine of their squad: Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. Familiarity with these characters has not exactly bred contempt - there is too much respect for their achievements for that - but it has fostered a certain ennui with Chelsea and a suspicion that past shortcomings, particularly in the latter stages of European competition, will not have been rectified.

But Chelsea are ideally positioned to make a virtue of their experience. The talents of their 'famous four' have not been overtly dulled by the passing seasons and all played instrumental roles in the breathless Community Shield encounter with Manchester United on Sunday.

Moreover, their continued presence at Stamford Bridge - which was by no means guaranteed at the start of the summer, when Manchester City were fluttering their eyelashes at Terry and Internazionale sniffing at Drogba - gives Chelsea an aura which is not shared by all their title rivals.

Whatever Alex Ferguson says, United's sense of invincibility has been dented by the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez; Liverpool have failed to add significantly to a squad which has been deprived of the mercurial Xabi Alonso; and Arsenal appear to have acquired the most unwanted of habits - losing players as they are entering their prime.

Ancelotti's squad, however, remains in formidable condition, despite the lack of stellar signings this summer. Those detractors could yet live to regret writing Chelsea off this season.