Branislav Ivanovic believes Chelsea are stronger than last season even if they fail to buy Wayne Rooney.
Jose Mourinho is still hopeful of signing Rooney but has given the Manchester United striker until tomorrow night to decide whether he wants to move. The Chelsea manager will turn to Samuel Eto’o if Rooney stays at Old Trafford.
Ivanovic did not want to comment on the speculation but when asked if he felt the squad were already better equipped to cope with a campaign like the club record 69 games of last term, he said: “Yes. There are a lot of players fighting for places but the season is so long. When you miss some players through injury or something like that we won’t have a problem filling that space in the team.
“Every one of our players will get the chance and you have to be ready mentally and physically for this long season ahead. It’s important to have some games to recover and be ready for the next one.
“The manager knows what he wants and what kind of players we need in the squad. We are improving as a team with the new players, with the young guys.
“It’s been a good start. The beginning of the season is very important for us as a team because we’re growing in every game and in every training session. We have a lot more things to do but we’re happy about the situation now.”
Ivanovic is enjoying working under Mourinho and feels he will make everyone improve because he is such a hard man to please. He added: “He is a perfectionist on all the details in the game and you have to be ready for that. He always asks for one step more, for one run more, always something extra which gives a good result for the team. Will he make me a better player? For sure.”
Chelsea have conceded just one goal this season with Mourinho having picked the same seven players in goal, defence and deep midfield to start in each match.
He said: “The important thing for us is to get a confidence from the back four and to have an opportunity for the young guys up front to improve a lot and show all the potential they have.”
