Ancelotti and a Ruud awakening.

Byline: by SIMON CASS 

CARLO ANCELOTTI will arrive for his first competitive home match in charge of Chelsea today after a good night's rest. Indeed, the Italian may afford himself a little lie-in ahead of the lunchtime kick-off at Stamford Bridge Looking cool, calm and collected on the eve of the season curtain-raiser against Hull City there was little reason to doubt him. It was not always thus, however, as a former AC Milan team-mate is only too happy to point out.

Ruud Gullit knows a thing or two about the pressures of managing Chelsea, even if his one-and-a-half-season reign came before the arrival of Roman Abramovich. He is well versed in Ancelotti's pre-match routine as well, and just how a serious bout of nerves can affect his good friend's sleeping patterns.

'He was my room-mate and we had to play against Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final of the European Cup in 1989,' Gullit said. 'He was stood at the end of my bed on the morning of the game.

'When I was waking up, he was screaming at me saying, "I was up all night and you slept like a baby! How is it possible that we have to play against Real Madrid and you sleep like a baby?" He was looking at me as if I was nuts. He has looked at me all night because he couldn't sleep.'

For the record, Milan came away from the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw before destroying Real 5-0 in the return, Ancelotti opening the scoring at the San Siro with a superb long-range strike courtesy of a Gullit pass.

Given Gullit's account of his former team-mate's bout of stage fright, it is curious that Ancelotti is of the belief that the stomach-churning pressure of club management far outweighs that of being a player. 'As a player, it's a little bit different,' he said.

'I was more quiet, more calm before the match. As a manager, I'm more nervous because, as a manager, you have more responsibility.'

Responsibilities do not come much greater than managing a team owned by a billionaire who craves success at both domestic and European levels. Fortunate, then, that Ancelotti had eight years' experience of working for Italian Prime Minister and Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi before accepting the challenge of making Abramovich a happy man.

So, if the nerves have not disappeared all together, then it is the channelling of such stresses which means Ancelotti no longer has any need for the Nytol.

'I am able to control my nervousness,' he said. 'Stress is not a negative word. It's a positive. It helps you to stay focused.'

In Gullit's opinion, that desire to put himself under pressure is the main reason why Ancelotti decided to walk away from the San Siro.

'He needed a different challenge and I think he is going to use that feeling to win again,' said the Dutchman.

'That can rub off on the players because they are looking for a little bit of revenge themselves.'

That Ancelotti seems to be taking his new life in his stride perhaps has much to do with the players at his disposal.

'I am happy, not afraid,' he said. 'There's no tension or pressure. I'm happy to start the season because I have a good feeling with the atmosphere at this club.'

He has even allowed himself a dress rehearsal, revealing: 'I went sometimes in to Stamford Bridge, but not with fans or players in there. I only sat there. I sat there trying to imagine what it would be like.

'Tomorrow there will be a fantastic atmosphere, I think. It's better the fans chant for Chelsea, not Ancelotti.'

They will be singing his name all right if he is indeed the man to step into the shoes of Jose Mourinho and even go one better by winning the Champions League for the third time in his managerial career.

Gullit has little doubt that Ancelotti and Chelsea are a perfect fit.

'The most important thing he has to do is get results,' Gullit said. 'If he can do that, everybody will forget what happened in the past.

'He has to be himself. He is a very likeable person and very knowledgeable. If he uses all of that skill it will be enough for Chelsea.' It may also be enough to ensure his managerial rivals are the ones enduring the sleepless nights as the season wears on.

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Ruud Gullit joins Richard Keys and Andy Gray at Stamford Bridge today for the first of 92 live Barclays Premier League games available in high definition on Sky Sports this season.

HUNT'S MISSION

STEPHEN HUNT is expecting a tough time when he makes his debut for Hull today -- from Chelsea fans who will never forgive him for his part in Petr Cech's skull fracture in 2006. 'That's history,' said the former Reading winger. 'I'm expecting (a hostile reception) but I don't mind. The important thing is to get something from the game. There's no point giving a good account of ourselves and losing.'

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Glory days: Ancelotti lifts the European Cup in 1989, flanked by Ruud Gullit (third right)

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