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No pushovers Vialli aims to show Chelsea can play rough
LONDON (Reuters) -- Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli aims to show his more combative rivals in the English Premier League that his team are no easy touch this season. Vialli, whose side plays Manchester United in the Charity Shield at Wembley on Sunday, said: "I think everyone regards Chelsea as a team that likes to play football but one that cannot handle it when things get rough. "We must show it doesn't matter what goes on and that we can play a technical and a tough match." Chelsea's Italian manager faces the curtain-raiser to the Premier League season starting on August 19 by underlining his desire to lift the Charity Shield. "We want to add another trophy to the cabinet so we will be really up for the match," he said. "It is an important game for us as a victory over the champions would be the perfect start to a new season." Vialli has spent 24 million pounds (US$36.10 million) in the offseason signing Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Croatian midfielder Mario Stanic and Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. He has also secured a season-long loan for Inter Milan defender Christian Panucci. The former Italian international stressed the money Chelsea spent was necessary after it finished a distant fifth to a dominant Manchester United last season. Vialli said: "We have spent a lot of money because we needed to make changes and get the age of the squad down. But I reassure supporters we will never go bankrupt as we know where the line is. "Manchester United were by far the best side last year and deserved to win [the Premier League] like they did with four weeks to go. "They have proved how strong their squad is by just adding Fabian Barthez over the summer but he is the signing they have needed since Peter Schmeichel left." Of Chelsea's new recruits, Panucci is not in line to play at Wembley. The London club is still waiting for his international clearance from Italy. Vialli said: "In any case a start for Panucci will be too soon so we will probably start with players from last season's squad as a means of recognition of their achievements." Panucci, meanwhile, was keen to deny quotes from him in the media saying Chelsea was a small club. He said: "Chelsea is a good team and can win the Premier League. I am very happy to come here and want to put this right. "My transfer with Roma fell through but it was important to come to a club that can compete, and Chelsea is known in Italy as a great team."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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