Terry urges Blues to unite behind Ancelotti

John Terry has called for everyone to unite behind new manager Carlo Ancelotti to help take Chelsea "in the right direction''.

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The Italian coach will be presented to the media on Monday morning, with the squad set to reassemble at London Colney ahead of pre-season training.

Ancelotti, stepping into the Stamford Bridge hot-seat following Guus Hiddink's successful caretaker reign, will look to add to the playing staff and is understood to be keen on raiding his old club for Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo and striker Pato.

The arrival of £18million-rated versatile Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow is expected to be confirmed shortly, with young goalkeeper Ross Turnbull yesterday agreeing a free transfer switch from Middlesbrough.

Chelsea have made it clear Terry remains integral to their ongoing ambitions, rejecting out of hand another approach from cash-rich Manchester City for the England captain.

The 29-year-old centre-back's commitment to the Blues cause has never been in question, and Terry feels now is the time for a collective approach after what had been a somewhat difficult period under former boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"Next season we need to make sure we start a lot better than we did last year and really push for the Premier League because I would love to win that trophy again, as well as being back in the mix for the Champions League,'' said Terry.

"It is important we realise Ancelotti is going to be here for a good few years, he is going to bring in his own players, staff and training methods.

"We need to adapt to that and move Chelsea in the right direction.''

Ancelotti is Chelsea's fifth manager in the space of two years.

Terry, the current club captain, added: "The players have coped with it very well [having so many managers].

"It is important that we get a bit of stability under Ancelotti for two or three years.

"We must get a settled team and a settled manager and really build and move things in the right direction.''

Chelsea will head to the United States as part of their pre-season schedule, with matches against Seattle Sounders, then both Milan teams and Club America as part of the 2009 World Football Challenge.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, has ruled out allowing striker Didier Drogba to leave.

The Ivory Coast striker, handed a ban by UEFA following his outburst after the Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona, has been linked with a move to the San Siro and reunion with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

However, Ancelotti insisted: "Now I have Drogba in my team and he will be staying.

He told Italian Radio Deejay: "I will not sell him to Mourinho.''