Ancelotti: My Blues play like Roman wants

Carlo Ancelotti last night claimed he has finally brought Roman Abramovich the football he wants to see.

Jose Mourinho’s Stamford Bridge return with Inter Milan will see the "Special One" receiving the acclaim of the Blues faithful, their first chance to honour the most successful manager in the club’s history.

The current Chelsea boss insisted the Mourinho factor will not have any effect once tonight’s game starts.

And the Italian maintained he has delivered the stylish, attack-minded football Mourinho was sacked for not supplying.

Ancelotti said: “We have changed something. The system of play is different.

“We have our way - it is to play football, to keep possession, play attacking football. Our aim is to keep control of the game with possession of the ball. We have players with a lot quality.

“Of course, sometimes we didn’t play so well. But I think this team has an identity now. And we have to improve this identity.”

That lack of “personality“ was something Abramovich complained of during his first face-to-face meeting with Ancelotti, 12 months before the former AC Milan boss agreed to take up the Chelsea challenge.

And Ancelotti, who insisted he had no doubts over Champions League rookie keeper Ross Turnbull, added: “Roman wants to see the team in his identity. This is what he wants to see. I think the team now is playing with this identity.

“I don’t know if mistakes were made in the Champions League in the past. If you reach the semi-finals five times in six years it is down to details, so I want to get us to the semis again and deal with those details.

“Against Inter, I’m sure the players will not be distracted. Mourinho will come back. For him, it’ll be a special evening. I think also that the fans will give him a very good reception, one he deserves.

“But the match will be another thing. The players are not involved in this. All the Chelsea players and Inter players are focused on the game, an important game.

“Jose has great experience, has won the Champions League and a lot of titles in different countries. So I think that there is no difference between him and me.

“What matters will be the different play, the different confidence, the different courage and personality that the teams put out on the pitch. That can be the difference.

“We know we have to show our best football, better organisation and better concentration. If we do that, we’ll win.

“I want my players to go on the pitch and show their quality. I don’t need nothing else, just show their quality, play football, play together, stay compact.

“Look, I would love to be playing in this game. I am lucky to be on the bench. So why should I be afraid or worried? It’s the best emotion for the players to play in this game. I want my players to go on the pitch with this sensation, to seize the moment.”

French winger Florent Malouda, signed by Mourinho but now showing his best Blues form, was equally adamant the former manager’s influence was more symbolic than actual.

“It’s more important for the fans than for us,” said Malouda. “We, as players for Chelsea, just want to beat Inter. As he’s the Inter coach, we want to beat him too.

“This will be an emotional game for him but you could see in the first game it was not disturbing for the players he signed here.”

While Mourinho ostentatiously kissed the Inter club crest before the first leg, Ancelotti, desperate to avoid a row, opted to go all “Swiss Tony“ on the idea.

“I’d prefer to kiss a nice, beautiful lady rather than the badge,” he said. Win tonight and he might just get a smacker from Roman.