What the papers are saying ahead of the final day of the Premier League season.
• Carlo Ancelotti prepares Chelsea for victory at Bridge of highs - The Times
As much as Chelsea’s statistical dominance, it is the style with which the points have been accumulated that has been impressive. By tinkering with an established formation and bringing the best out of underachieving individuals — Florent Malouda, Branislav Ivanovic and Alex — Ancelotti has transformed a group of attritional artisans into artistic entertainers.
• How Carlo Ancelotti won the battle to keep Chelsea stars on his side - The Guardian
Ancelotti brought a reputation that demanded respect – shaped through his career as a player and a coach – but has won new friends with his blend of hard work and good humour. "We work hard on the training ground and, off the pitch, we are fairly light-hearted around the place," said Frank Lampard. "Carlo understands what it is to be a player and what he has to do as a manager. He is laid-back, but when he speaks he speaks with authority. He doesn't show any tension because he doesn't want his players being tense. And he has that focus you need. It must have been an eye opener coming to a new country, but he's done very well."
• Mourinho made Chelsea almost unbeatable. Has Ancelotti made them irresistible? - The Independent
Ancelotti's success has been helped by the very fact that he is not Mourinho. In fact his style in so many aspects of the job is very different from, if not diametrically opposed to, the management technique of "The Special One".
• Carlo can join the greats: Ancelotti has the chance to claim his place as Chelsea's truly Special One - The Daily Mail
• Chelsea ready to put in polished performance to clinch the Premier League trophy - The Telegraph
If United boast the Footballer of the Year in Rooney, Chelsea have the best team, class acts in individuals like Lampard, Drogba, Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic, even Salomon Kalou recently. For all the understandable praise heaped on Patrice Evra, Ashley Cole is the superior left-back.
• Lampard: This is my best ever season - The Sun
FOOTBALL, like most things, is all about timing.
Start well, pace yourself, don't peak too early and save the best 'til last.
Just ask Frank Lampard - the Chelsea midfielder has turned timing on the pitch into an art form.