Gleeful Ancelotti already looking ahead

As Stamford Bridge revelled in Chelsea FC's fourth English title and the record-breaking performance that secured it, the club's manager Carlo Ancelotti momentarily stepped away from the celebrations to deliver his rivals a warning for next season.

Four years on from their last Premier League crown, Chelsea reacquainted themselves with league glory thanks to an emphatic 8-0 last-day win against ten-man Wigan Athletic FC, Didier Drogba hitting a hat-trick to top the scoring charts in the process. The victory proved essential too, with Manchester United FC finishing a point shy after downing Stoke City FC 4-0, but Ancelotti advised the Red Devils to expect another testing campaign next term after his successful introduction to the English game.

"I think that this club will have a future because these players are not so old and we have a very good squad for next year and the years after," promised the former AC Milan tactician, whose charges will complete the double if they can overcome Portsmouth FC in the FA Cup final on Saturday. "After this first year, I hope to stay here a long time and win a lot of titles."

He also vowed to preserve his side's attacking verve, Chelsea having become the first team to pass the 100-goal milestone in a Premier League season as well as signing off with their biggest ever top-flight win. "The most important thing is to win but I think we've found the right way to win playing good football, showing good fair play and giving joy to the fans who saw our team," he added. "This is my style and I want to keep this style in the future."

Having recorded home and away triumphs over United, Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC, Chelsea certainly deserved their crown, and Ancelotti put their success down to the quality of his players and the spirit in the squad. "I found a fantastic team here who worked very well every day, maintaining a good atmosphere as a team," he explained. "We won this title because we played as a team and worked as a team – everyone, not only the players."

There were minor signs of dissension during the Wigan win as Drogba expressed his frustration when Frank Lampard insisted on taking the penalty to make it 2-0, but the Ivorian international recognised his colleague had been right. "I had to get over the frustration in the second half and come back," he said. "I wasn't happy but afterwards I realised I was making a big mistake and Frank was right. I feel very proud because for three years we were chasing this title."