Carlo Ancelotti has the ability to take the special one's place in fans' hearts

Scott Minto
2 Jun 2009

Avram Grant had some big shoes to fill following the 2007 departure of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese not only won four major trophies in his short time at the Bridge, but also captured the hearts of the Chelsea faithful.

Guus Hiddink seems to have been elevated to similar status in just four months. But, hard as it may be, Chelsea fans must realise that Hiddink is in the past. Carlo Ancelotti is now the future.

I hope he's a success because after having had five managers in two years, the club is crying out for stability.

Only time will tell if the Roman Abramovich has made the right decision, but all a club can do in appointing a manager is to look at his track record. And the Italian has a good one.

Two Champions League titles is perhaps the most important entry on his CV, certainly in the eyes of the Chelsea owner, who has seen his club win every domestic trophy but desperately wants European success.

In a way, it's disappointing that no British manager was given serious consideration - Martin O'Neill and David Moyes being the only obvious contenders. But the former can't be prised away from Villa Park and the latter is seen as too inexperienced at the top level.

Perhaps the only way a British manager will get a job with the big four is to go abroad first and get Champions League experience that way.

But what does Ancelotti have to do to become a success at Chelsea?

Firstly, he'll have to become fluent in English. He's at a decent standard already but knows he'll have to improve and I'm sure he will, working with the players on a daily basis.

Comparisons with Scolari are unfair. The Brazilian didn't fail just because he couldn't fully grasp the language.

He hadn't been a club boss for a number of years and had never managed in Europe.

Also, players were going to him asking for more intensity in the training, something almost unheard of. And he lost half the dressing room, including Didier Drogba.

Ancelotti, however, is different. He's going from one top European club to another and is used to the daily rigours of club football.

His man-management is also excellent and has had ringing endorsements of his style from both past and present players.

Some people will look at the average age of the Chelsea squad and say it's too old. Coming from Milan, he'll probably think they're kids!

But he doesn't need to make wholesale changes, just a tweak here and there.

Strong understudies to Petr Cech and Ashley Cole are needed in case they get injured. A creative wide player, such as Franck Ribery, in competition with Joe Cole and Florent Malouda would help. And a striker to have more depth in that department, someone like David Villa or even Carlos Tevez.

There would certainly be plenty of options and the chance to be more flexible in the formation if the need arose.

Finally and most importantly, he simply has to win games.

Under Mourinho, it wasn't always pretty. But he knew how to grind out a result. If Ancelotti can do that and win either the Premier or Champions League title next May, the Italian will be as popular as a certain Portuguese.