Ivanovic targets Blues place

Defender claims he is better than Carvalho and Alex

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 8th July 2008

ivanovic branislav

Ivanovic: Yet to make Chelsea debut

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Branislav Ivanovic believes he is better than Ricardo Carvalho and Alex and should be playing regularly for Chelsea.

The Serbian defender joined the Blues from Lokomotiv Moscow in a big-money move in the January transfer window.

The 24-year-old did not feature at all last season as Chelsea challenged for domestic and European glory but he has now warned his team-mates he is ready to fight for a place in the side.

Ivanovic cannot understand why he was not given any opportunities by Avram Grant as he has boldly claimed that he has more to offer than some of Chelsea's more established centre-backs.

He reckons he should be ahead of both Carvalho and Alex in the defensive pecking order and admits he will not be happy if he continues to be overlooked.

Ivanovic hopes that if he does not figure in the plans of new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, he may be able to secure a loan switch to Juventus.

"I am better than Alex and Ricardo Carvalho - I am in my prime and I want to play," Ivanovic told The Sun.

"Chelsea paid £9million for me but nobody has told me so far why I did not make a debut for them.

"I am optimistic that the least Chelsea will do is loan me to Juventus."