Carlo Ancelotti has been discussing his relationship with his friend and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.
The pair played together for Italy in the 1980s and '90s, and were rivals in Milan for four years as they managed the city's two footballing giants. Now they face off again in England, with high expectations on both.
Ancelotti has enjoyed a near perfect start to the season while for Mancini, there are problems with both form and fitness. The former Leicester City player has already publicly conceded the championship to Chelsea.
Asked whether this was just kidology, Ancelotti remarked: 'I think it is not a mind game, I know him very well, for this reason he knows us very well, he knows our ability, and I think that's what he thinks. It is not dangerous for us.
'To be under pressure is normal, above all when you have a team you have to build the mentality of the team, it is not an easy job, he is doing his best and I hope the club appreciate his job,' said the Chelsea man of his counterpart.
'We were team mates in the past in the national team, I met him two months ago in Manchester and the relationship is very good.
'He is very competitive and he has experience, he has ability to read the game.'
Despite City's double over us last season (Mark Hughes was manager for one of those games), Ancelotti still has the upper hand against Mancini.
'Sometimes he won, sometimes I won. 8-7 and three draws, I want to improve my lead,' he smiled.
'[Last year] was the past, it was a difficult moment for us when we lost at home but now is a different story. We have more confidence compared to last year, we are in a good moment and we can do better compared to the last match at Manchester.'
That was a 2-1 defeat in December, when new captain Carlos Tevez's free-kick earned City all three points, and the Argentine scored two more at Stamford Bridge in February.
'He is the most dangerous player of Manchester City, he has quality' said Ancelotti. 'He has power and very good mentality. I appreciate his kind of play and we have to pay attention.'
It is in defence where City have problems, with only three recognized defenders fit, though Joleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng may figure.
Lescott has been troubled by a groin injury that has kept him out of City's last three games, while Boateng has not featured at all since his summer move from Hamburg after aggravating a knee injury when he was accidentally struck by an in-flight meal trolley.
Pablo Zabaleta is earmarked for the right-back role, Mancini only has youngster Dedryck Boyata, plus midfielders Gareth Barry and James Milner available to fill the role if neither Lescott nor Boateng are deemed to be fit enough.
'I do not know what I am going to do just yet. I will speak with Joleon and Jerome, but if they are not available I am not sure. Maybe Boyata, but I am not sure,' Mancini conceded.
Emmanuel Adebayor should be fit to make the bench after a recent spell out with a dead leg, but former Blue Shaun Wright-Phillips joins Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli on the sidelines with a knee injury.
'I am disappointed we have all these injuries at the moment," added Mancini. 'I only have 11 players who are 100% fit.'
The pair played together for Italy in the 1980s and '90s, and were rivals in Milan for four years as they managed the city's two footballing giants. Now they face off again in England, with high expectations on both.
Ancelotti has enjoyed a near perfect start to the season while for Mancini, there are problems with both form and fitness. The former Leicester City player has already publicly conceded the championship to Chelsea.
Asked whether this was just kidology, Ancelotti remarked: 'I think it is not a mind game, I know him very well, for this reason he knows us very well, he knows our ability, and I think that's what he thinks. It is not dangerous for us.
'To be under pressure is normal, above all when you have a team you have to build the mentality of the team, it is not an easy job, he is doing his best and I hope the club appreciate his job,' said the Chelsea man of his counterpart.
'We were team mates in the past in the national team, I met him two months ago in Manchester and the relationship is very good.
'He is very competitive and he has experience, he has ability to read the game.'
Despite City's double over us last season (Mark Hughes was manager for one of those games), Ancelotti still has the upper hand against Mancini.
'Sometimes he won, sometimes I won. 8-7 and three draws, I want to improve my lead,' he smiled.
'[Last year] was the past, it was a difficult moment for us when we lost at home but now is a different story. We have more confidence compared to last year, we are in a good moment and we can do better compared to the last match at Manchester.'
That was a 2-1 defeat in December, when new captain Carlos Tevez's free-kick earned City all three points, and the Argentine scored two more at Stamford Bridge in February.
'He is the most dangerous player of Manchester City, he has quality' said Ancelotti. 'He has power and very good mentality. I appreciate his kind of play and we have to pay attention.'
It is in defence where City have problems, with only three recognized defenders fit, though Joleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng may figure.
Lescott has been troubled by a groin injury that has kept him out of City's last three games, while Boateng has not featured at all since his summer move from Hamburg after aggravating a knee injury when he was accidentally struck by an in-flight meal trolley.
Pablo Zabaleta is earmarked for the right-back role, Mancini only has youngster Dedryck Boyata, plus midfielders Gareth Barry and James Milner available to fill the role if neither Lescott nor Boateng are deemed to be fit enough.
'I do not know what I am going to do just yet. I will speak with Joleon and Jerome, but if they are not available I am not sure. Maybe Boyata, but I am not sure,' Mancini conceded.
Emmanuel Adebayor should be fit to make the bench after a recent spell out with a dead leg, but former Blue Shaun Wright-Phillips joins Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli on the sidelines with a knee injury.
'I am disappointed we have all these injuries at the moment," added Mancini. 'I only have 11 players who are 100% fit.'
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