Didier Drogba says Chelsea are “not ready” for the new season and must improve to get their Premier League title defence off to a good start.

Last season’s Double winners were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley, a fourth consecutive loss in their warm-up schedule.

Carlo Ancelotti insists there is no major cause for concern as Chelsea build towards the visit of newly-promoted West Brom to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

However, with so many of the senior squad having been away on extended breaks after the World Cup and the likes of Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel coming back from long-term injuries, Drogba admits there is still some hard work ahead.

“The game against United showed we are not ready. We have to step up our game if we want to start the season well like we did last year,” he said.

“A lot of players have only trained for 10 days. It is too short to be fit and ready for the big competition.

“We have to improve our game, even if we are not fit, and hope that in two to three weeks time we will be better.

“I hope it does not take that long but when you come back after a short holiday it takes a minimum of two to three weeks to have good preparation and be fit physically. I know I’m not ready yet.”

Drogba added: “Against United, we played without intensity, but we are working very hard in training trying to get fit early.

“It is not going to be easy but we need more time.”

Chelsea are understood to be close to completing the £22million signing of Benfica’s Brazil midfielder Ramires, but so far Yossi Benayoun is the only senior player the Blues have added to their squad this summer.

Drogba, though, insists there is already enough strength in depth for the Blues to mount another sustained assault on both domestic and European honours next season.

“The squad is the same as last year and the quality is still there,” said the striker, who netted 29 goals last season.

“If there are more players coming then that will be good for us because it will improve the level of the team, but if not then we know that we will have the quality to go very far in all competitions.”

Goalkeeper Petr Cech is expected to be fit from his calf injury in time to face West Brom, but Ancelotti could yet consider bringing in more back-up, with Stoke’s Asmir Begovic said to be on the Italian’s radar.

Chelsea officials, meanwhile, maintain there was no deliberate snub by full-back Ashley Cole towards England manager Fabio Capello after the defeat to United at Wembley.

The club stress Cole simply stumbled as he climbed the steps towards the royal box and did not see the Italian.

Along with Chelsea captain John Terry, Cole was present for the initial group meeting with Capello and the rest of the England squad ahead of the midweek friendly against Hungary before heading off for warm-down sessions at Arsenal’s Hertfordshire training base.

Benfica have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sell Ramires to Chelsea for £18.2million, subject to the midfielder passing a medical.

The deal will be completed once Ramires undergoes a medical and pens a contract with the Premier League champions, something which is expected to take place in the coming days.

The 23-year-old will become the second addition to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad following the arrival of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.

Benfica announced the deal with a statement on the website of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission.

It read: “Benfica, in compliance with Article 248, of the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, hereby inform that they have reached a agreement in principle with Chelsea FC for the transfer, on a permanent basis, of the sporting and economic rights of the professional footballer Ramires Santos do Nascimento for the value of 22million euros.

“They also inform that the said transfer agreement will be formalised once the athlete completes the medical examinations which he will undergo, with the consent of Benfica, and it will be concluded with the signing of a contract of employment between the aforementioned athlete and Chelsea FC.”

Ramires joined the Portuguese giants last summer from Cruzeiro, in his homeland, penning a five-year contract with a release clause of 30 million euros.

There were fears the deal could hit a stumbling block over third-party ownership, but those appear unfounded.

Kia Joorabchian, the football businessman who brought Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the Premier League, does not own any direct stake in Ramires.

Joorabchian helped to fund Benfica’s purchase of the hard-working Brazilian for around £6million last summer.

Like any bank loan, Joorabchian would expect to be repaid when the deal goes through with Chelsea but he has no direct input into the arrangement.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole was not intelligent enough to follow team instructions.

The Blues allowed Cole to leave for Liverpool on a free transfer and then bought Yossi Benayoun for £6million, with many questioning the wisdom of the deal.

But Ancelotti told The Sun: “Joe Cole is quicker than Benayoun but Yossi is better tactically. He understands what I tell him.

“Yossi is a very intelligent player. He knows everything about the game.

“Cole and Benayoun are different players and everyone has their own opinion, but we are happy to have Yossi here at Chelsea.”

This follows pre-World Cup reports that Fabio Capello did not trust Cole not to lose the ball in key positions.

Chelsea’s chief executive Ron Gourlay is adamant star striker Didier Drogba is not for sale and has also pledged more transfer funds to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Both bits of news will come as a welcome relief to the Stamford Bridge faithful with only Yossi Benayoun added to the squad so far and Drogba’s agent sparking rumours of a move to Manchester City.

But Gourlay has made it clear that Drogba, back at the club’s training ground today after groin surgery, is not for sale.

He said “Didier will be a Chelsea player next year. Didier is under contract.

“The thing about this time of year is we always get (this). For our players to be in the news – it’s normal.

“But Didier Drogba will be a Chelsea player next year.”

The Ivory Coast striker, who was the Premier League’s leading goalscorer last season, can be backed at 6.50 to recapture his title.

Betting for the Premier League 2010/11 Leading Goalscorer:

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Gourlay also said that funds would be made available if Ancelotti wanted to strengthen his title-winning squad, following the acquisition of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool for £5million.

The Israel captain’s pre-season progress has been hampered by a slight groin problem but he is expected to be included on the club’s forthcoming tour of Germany.

The club have also lost defender Alex and goalkeeper Petr Cech through injury and chief executive, Ron Gourlay, has confirmed that funds will be made available to Ancelotti should the Chelsea boss require them.

“If Carlo wants to bring a player or two into the squad then we will look at that,” Gourlay told Sky Sports News.

“It has to be the right player to fit into the squad and obviously at the right price.

“If these things all come together then fine, we’ll strengthen the squad. But only if Carlo feels it’s necessary.”

Meanwhile, Deco’s future also continues to be the subject of continued speculation with Fluminese rumoured to be ready to land the Portugal midfielder.

But the player was today undergoing double training sessions at Cobham. It is understood he wants to return to his native Brazil to be with his ill son.

Reigning champions Chelsea, 2.50 to regain their title, kick-start the season at home to newly promoted West Brom. The Blues can be backed at 1.14 to get the perfect start, with West Brom 15.00 to cause an upset and the draw 6.50.

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Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has moved to stamp out rumours that Didier Drogba will depart Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Blues were quick to stress that the Ivory Coast forward was not for sale earlier this month after Drogba’s agent, Thierno Seydi, claimed a Manchester City move could be on the cards.

And Gourlay has reiterated that the 32-year-old striking ace, who is contracted with Chelsea until 2012, will remain at the London club this season.

“Didier will be a Chelsea player next year. Didier is under contract,” Gourlay told Sky Sports News.

“The thing about this time of year is we always get (this). For our players to be in the news – it’s normal.

“But Didier Drogba will be a Chelsea player next year.”

Blues manager Carlos Ancelotti has brought in two new signings so far this summer in the form of midfielder Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool and young defender Tomas Kalas.

And the Italian boss has been given the green light by Gourlay to further bolster the squad should the right opportunity present itself.

“If Carlo wants to bring a player or two into the squad then we will look at that,” added Gourlay.

“It has to be the right player to fit into the squad and obviously at the right price.

“If these things all come together then fine, we’ll strengthen the squad. But only if Carlo feels it’s necessary.”