Football

Chelsea's latest recruit Juan Sebastian Veron has vowed to prove Manchester United were wrong to offload him by helping his new club dethrone the English champions off their perch.

The Argentina midfielder only displayed flashes of his undoubted ability in his two seasons at United, leaving United boss Alex Ferguson to conclude that he should accept Chelsea's 15-million-pound offer for him.

Veron said United's decision to sell reflected a breakdown in his relationship with Ferguson and predicted a better understanding

with Chelsea's Italian manager Claudio Ranieri.

"Ferguson trusted me when I first arrived but later on it seemed we didn't understand each other as well," Veron told reporters.

"There were times when I felt he preferred some of my team-mates. I think I'll understand Claudio Ranieri better because of the language.

"I can do a job in English football -and in London that will be reaffirmed.

"I've nothing to prove against United but when I play against them I will play to win, like I always do."

Both Veron and Chelsea's other new signing Joe Cole, a 6.6-million-pound capture from West Ham, will be available for the Champions League qualifier against Slovakia's Zilina next week.

Speculation is also mounting that Chelsea are close to capturing Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri in a deal that will take their summer spending spree to 80 million pounds.

Chelsea's squad had been transformed thanks to the fortunes of the club's new owner, Russian oil tycoon Roman Abramovich.

And England midfielder Frank Lampard admitted that the huge cash injection had generated enormous pressure for the players to deliver on the pitch.

"People outside of Chelsea will be wanting us to fail because of the money we have spent. That is the harsh reality of football. The pressure is on but we will put pressure on ourselves anyway.

"With the players we have bought we should be up there fighting to win the league."