My ambition is to manage Chelsea, reveals Zola

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Zola is revered at Stamford Bridge after an eight-year spell in which he won two FA Cups, one Cup Winners' Cup, one League Cup and was named Football Writers' Player of the Year in 1997.

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And the 40-year-old, currently working as a part-time coach of Italy Under-21's under Pierluigi Casiraghi, would one day like to repeat his success at a club still close to his heart. "Managing Chelsea would be something great and maybe one day I will but I want to make myself as good as possible and then we will see," he said. "I don't know if I will become a full-time manager - I have to finish my badges first - but the European Under 21's Championship was great experience for me." Not that Zola has ideas of replacing current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho just yet. The little Italian is a fervent supporter of Mourinho and believes he can cope with the pressure of wrestling the Premiership title back from Manchester United.

"From the first day he came to Chelsea, he said 'I am the best manager' so he invited pressure on himself," explained Zola. "He has to win things but I don't think he is worried about it. He likes pressure." The Italian dismissed critics who claim Chelsea's style is too negative and taunts from rival fans that the club lacks history. "The first year I came to Chelsea (in 1996), I played under Ruud Gullit and people said we were playing the best football," he said, speaking at the launch of Harrods' Sardinia exhibition. "Our style was very attractive but we were not winning. Now, they win and people still find something wrong. Yes, they could play better but I don't think it matters. "People say Chelsea have no history but that is not true. Even if it was, history can be written. Roman Abramovich has done well for Chelsea. They have made history so far and there is more to make."