In one other world, it might have been Carlo Ancelotti on the road with the American.

As an alternative, Ancelotti returns to Stamford Bridge strictly as an opponent, representing Actual Madrid within the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.

It was Madrid president Florentino Pérez who introduced the Italian again for a second spell on the helm, after Zinedine Zidane walked away once more in 2021.

Ancelotti’s Madrid outclassed the Blues within the opener, taking a 2-0 lead by means of Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio, they usually might have added extra objectives whereas accountable for the sport.

On the different finish, former Chelsea duo Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger made important saves and blocks to go away Lampard’s aspect empty-handed.

Ancelotti’s return to Chelsea evokes heat recollections of one of many Premier League’s biggest groups, main the membership to its first league and FA Cup double in 2010, halcyon days in stark distinction to the Blues’ current hunch.

Italian Chelsea featured greats like Didier Drogba, John Terry, Michael Ballack and Lampard himself, they usually racked up 7-0, 7-1 and 8-0 wins on the Bridge as they marched to nationwide glory.

Chelsea’s present hodgepodge of gamers lacks each the management and high quality of that group, as was painfully uncovered by their loss on the Santiago Bernabéu final week.

“I am unhappy, sure,” Ancelotti stated earlier than that conflict. “I’ve implausible recollections of this membership, of the individuals who proceed to work there.

“I am a Chelsea supporter, after all, as a result of I had an excellent two years there.

“I feel and hope that Lampard can do a implausible job with them.”

It was a beneficiant line from Ancelotti, however the Italian hopes his coach is not so magnanimous on Tuesday within the London lights.

Ancelotti was sacked by then-owner Roman Abramovich in 2011, ending his temporary however memorable two-season stint in cost.

– Protected palms –

Madrid are aiming to win a record-extending fifteenth Champions League, defending the title after their conquer Liverpool final season, and regarded forward to the 2021 victors within the Spanish capital.

Regardless of not being the primary, second or third selection for the job, Ancelotti was chosen as a protected pair of palms and likewise helped Madrid carry La Liga final season.

Like Zidane earlier than him, he’s proving that glorious man administration is a crucial talent for Los Blancos coaches, although not the one one, as he took pains to level out.

“I am ‘implausible’ in administration however there are different issues, as a result of this staff is nicely ready,” Ancelotti stated earlier than the primary leg.

“If we win the Copa del Rey, we could have gained all potential titles in two years and there are groups that won’t win it of their total lives.”

Ancelotti has saved squad gamers like Dani Ceballos, Nacho Fernández and Asensio hungry and useful, with the latter scoring once more in Cádiz on the weekend. Most of them, anyway.

Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard has remained a fringe presence and his former followers might be hoping to not see him on Tuesday; If the Belgian seems, it is going to imply that Madrid have secured development and the important thing gamers are resting.

“The door is open and it is as much as us to open it much more,” Lampard stated after the primary leg loss, in search of a comeback.

Will probably be music to Ancelotti’s ears, together with his aspect so deadly at half-time in opposition to determined groups and the supervisor clever sufficient to play to his strengths.

The 63-year-old has lifted the trophy six instances, twice as a participant and 4 instances on the bench, just lately noting that he’s approaching his 1,three hundredth recreation as supervisor.

His expertise and stability are in stark distinction to Chelsea’s doomsday undertaking, and on Tuesday they may help you spotlight the chasms the place you as soon as left silverware and recollections.