CARLO ANCELOTTI IS NEW 'HAIRDRYER'

THE Italian 'hairdryer' is ready to blow through the Chelsea dressing room.

Blues' target Andrea Pirlo has warned his possible team-mates that new Stamford Bridge boss Carlo Ancelotti can be as fiery as Sir Alex Ferguson.

AC Milan midfielder Pirlo has witnessed first-hand Ancelotti's ruthless managerial style playing under him at the Italian giants. But Pirlo insisted Ancelotti is perfect for Chelsea and will be a bigger success at the Bridge than the revered 'Special One' Jose Mourinho who lifted the European Cup with Porto.

Pirlo, who could yet follow Ancelotti to Chelsea in a £20million move, declared: "Carlo is one of the best managers in the world and will demand success.

Rants

"There has been talk about Chelsea having a lot of big players and a lot of big personalities, but there will not be a bigger personality than Carlo. If he is not happy with the performance of the team or of an individual player, then he will let it be known.

"And you don't argue! You sit there and listen because the chances are he is going to be right. He is the boss and, no matter how good you are as a player, you better understand he is the boss. If you don't, you will have it explained to you very quickly."

Fergie's 'hairdryer' rants at his players have become legendary. During one he hurled a boot at David Beckham, cutting him above the eye. Beckham, who is returning to American outfit LA Galaxy after completing his loan spell at Milan, has played under both Fergie and Ancelotti.

Pirlo added: "David tells me that when Carlo is unhappy in the dressing room it reminds him of how Alex Ferguson was when he was not happy with the team.

"They are both world-class managers, so it does not surprise me that they both have some of the same attributes. I don't know Alex Ferguson personally but, like Carlo, he strikes me as the type of manager who demands his players know who is boss."

Ancelotti, 49, has taken over from Guus Hiddink on a three-year deal worth £16.5m. The former Milan boss has been hired to finally achieve billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich's dream of winning the Champions League.

Ancelotti has the perfect credentials, having won the European Cup twice as a player and twice as a coach.

Pirlo said: "I know Mourinho was very successful at Chelsea and, perhaps, the club looks at every new manager to be the next Mourinho. But Carlo will not be the next anyone. He is his own man. However, I am sure the legacy he leaves will be bigger than the one Mourinho left.

"He has won European Cups as a player and a manager. He knows the competition inside out and he knows what it takes to succeed. If Chelsea wanted a manager who can finally win the European Cup for them, they could not have chosen a better one."

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