Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists he is not necessarily planning to take a year out of football and would return straight away if the right opportunity came up.

The Italian was sacked by the Blues following their final Premier League game of last season, paying the price for a trophyless campaign which came on the back of a domestic double in his first year in England.

Ancelotti still lives close to the Chelsea training ground in Surrey and his preference appears to be to continue his managerial career in England.

“I haven’t said I want to take a year out,” he told reporters.

“I’ve said I’m not afraid to spend one year out, trying to find a solution that enables me to stay in English football. If I can find the right solution, the right team, I will be very happy.

“Now I feel I want to be able to wake up every morning and go training. Until now it has not been so difficult. It was the summer, there were no games.”

Ancelotti insists he harbours no bitterness about the way Chelsea handled his sacking, with the decision coming almost immediately after the final league game at Everton.

“What would have been the point in waiting?” Ancelotti asked.

“If they have something to tell me I prefer to know immediately. Until the end, I felt my future depended on the results. I hoped I would stay.

“But when (Chelsea chief executive) Ron (Gourlay) came to me after the press conference at Everton and said he needed to speak to me, I knew what was coming.

“Ron was very professional about it. The players were on the bus. We were in the dressing room alone. He told me and that was that.”