And now for The Special One

THE return of one Chelsea legend was immediately overshadowed by the imminent arrival of another and there was little doubt which homecoming dominated thoughts at Stamford Bridge.

As warmly regarded as Gianfranco Zola is in this part of west London, the visit of his struggling West Ham side provided little more than a warm-up, a relatively minor obstacle that needed to be negotiated before concentration could be fully focused on tomorrow’s Champions League meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

West Ham were therefore duly dispatched with the minimum of fuss and Chelsea restored, temporarily, to the head of the Premier League table, clearing the decks before the club’s biggest game of the season.

The domestic title remains a priority but success in Europe has proved elusive for Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment last summer was made largely on the basis of his double success with AC Milan in the continent’s premier competition.

It was a prize that escaped Mourinho during his three full seasons in charge and, with Inter leading 2-1 from the first leg in the San Siro, the Portuguese could once again oversee Chelsea’s exit from the competition.

That is exactly the kind of prize that stimulates Mourinho’s colossal ego and, mindful of their former manager’s capabilities, will ensure Chelsea’s supporters greet him with a mixture of acclaim and fear. Unlike David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford last week, this is one reunion that really could end in tears.

With the spectre of the Armani-coated one looming large over the tie, the task for Ancelotti and is his players if to ensure they don’t believe the hype.

“I try to put this to the side and to be focused on myself and focused on the team,” admitted Michael Ballack. “It is really not a big theme in the dressing room, you know. It is no secret. We worked with him for a long time, most of the players, but it’s gone now and we have to keep going.

“We have had a few other coaches since then and so of course it is a special moment that we play against him. But also we play against a team of good players and we have to be focused on that.”

The Mourinho era will remain a benchmark for any Chelsea side until the Premier League title or Champions League trophy sits proudly in the club’s boardroom. “You can only make history if you win something,” added Ballack. “He won two league titles, of course that is why he is so popular here in Chelsea. But now it’s another time, with a new coach, with new players as well.

“You have to carry on and you have to try to win something. Of course in Champions League it’s this competition we couldn’t win until now. So that is why we are so hungry in this competition. Hopefully we can show this again on Tuesday.”

Their hopes of overturning the first leg defeat have hardly been helped by Petr Cech’s calf injury and the keeper is unlikely to win his fitness battle ahead of tomorrow’s game. With deputy Hilario sidelined with a groin problem, Ross Turnbull will be asked to play in the biggest game of his career although the 25-year-old came through his first test against West Ham comfortably enough.

Frustratingly for Ancelotti, his new keeper had little to do in a game that confirmed the respective standing of the two sides. Chelsea should have killed the game off in the first half hour but had only Alex’s header to show for their efforts before Scott Parker unexpectedly equalised.

The second half was a different matter altogether, with the home side stepping up the pace and delivering a much more ominous warning to the watching Inter scouts, easing their way to victory with two goals from Didier Drogba and one from Florent Malouda.

The result leaves West Ham three points outside the relegation zone, a position that could change following next week’s trip to face Arsenal. Pressure in inevitably growing on Zola but Parker, West Ham’s outstanding player, dismissed suggestions the manager doesn’t have the steel to see out a relegation fight.

“He has that tough side,” said Parker. “When you are so passionate about football, as Gianfranco is, whether you are a nice guy or not, that passionate side is going to come out. Gianfranco has got that side. He’s on the ball, knows what he wants, knows what he’s doing.

“I know everyone says nice men don’t make good managers but everybody in that changing-room would back him to the hilt. He’s got Steve alongside him. They work together well. It’s been a difficult season for us. There isn’t anyone to blame. We all just need to dig in.”

While West Ham are digging in, Chelsea will be looking for the moment of inspiration that will deny Mourinho a preening moment of ‘I told you so’ and allow Ancelotti and his players to draw a line under the past.

“This is Chelsea against Inter, not me against Mourinho,” said Ancelotti, optimistically. Some chance.

MATCH RATING: *** – Things got interesting when West Ham threatened to make a game of it but once the Chelsea machine started rolling in the second half the outcome was never in doubt.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) 6 – The referee’s biggest job was attempting to decipher the difference between Didier Drogba’s flamboyant dives and genuine infringements. More often than not, he got it right.