Carlo Ancelotti can make me a star, claims Daniel Sturridge

Simon Johnson
9 Jul 2009

Daniel Sturridge today said he left Manchester City for Chelsea because they can provide Champions League football and a better chance of winning trophies.

The 19-year-old is one of England's best young footballers and believes playing under Carlo Ancelotti could turn him into a world-class striker.

John Terry is still being tempted by a move to City although Ancelotti confirmed he would be having talks with his skipper today.

Even if Terry leaves, Sturridge is in no doubt that he has made the right decision by moving to Stamford Bridge.

He said: "My main motivation for coming here is to play in the Champions League. Any young player wants to play in the competition and I'm very ambitious. I want to push myself to the highest level and play with the best in the world. I believe I could achieve big things at Chelsea.

"I want to win trophies and Chelsea have been doing so for years. Coming here will only better me as a player and obviously I will become a man playing with the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka."

Many youngsters have struggled at Chelsea, while former City team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips failed to make an impact in two years at the Bridge.

Sturridge is confident he will succeed under Ancelotti but is prepared to wait for his chance.

He said: "Carlo Ancelotti is a very good manager and has helped me a lot since I came here. He had a lot of world-class players with him at Milan like Kaka and Alexandre Pato and I believe he can help me achieve huge things. He can turn me from a young player into a big player.

"I'm going to be patient because I know there are world-class players here. I'm not going to get too upset if I'm not playing. Hopefully, as the season goes on I will get an opportunity to show the fans what I'm capable of."

Sturridge, who has agreed a four-year contract, will see his transfer fee decided by a tribunal because he was under 24 and out of contract at City.

Before Sturridge was presented to the media, Ancelotti spoke briefly about City's interest in Terry and seemed relaxed about the situation.

The Italian said: "I will see John Terry today and I will speak with him. It is not a problem."

Joe Cole is close to agreeing a new four-year deal, ending Tottenham's slim hopes of signing the midfielder.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who gave Cole his professional breakthrough at West Ham when he was in charge at Upton Park, had been optimistic he could lure him to White Hart Lane.

The 27-year-old has been keen to commit his long-term future to Chelsea for some time, but was told he would have to wait until this summer for talks over a new contract, even though his current deal runs out in 2010.

A knee injury sustained in January ended his season four months early and meant he had no more chances to prove himself to the hierarchy.

Redknapp was believed to be monitoring the situation, but Chelsea want him to stay and Cole is willing to do so.

Talks are already under way over the four-year contract and the club is confident an agreement will be found soon.