Ancelotti wisecracks keep Blues on the boil

Ray Wilkins believes Chelsea’s success can be put down to Carlo Ancelotti’s close, and surprisingly humorous, relationship with his players and backroom staff.

With almost a third of the season gone, the Blues sit five points clear of last year’s Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United.

Ancelotti often appears straight-faced and hesitant under the media spotlight but Wilkins revealed ahead of the Carling Cup quarter-final at Blackburn the Italian has developed an impressive personal relationship with both players and staff at the club, some of which is based on humour.

“The way that he has treated the players on a personal level means he’s got the utmost respect from each and every one of them,” Wilkins said.

“He’s very knowledgeable on the game. He has dealt with the players in a fantastic fashion on a personal basis and I think we are seeing the rewards of that now.

“He tells jokes to the players. He’s a football person and enjoys their company and obviously when things are going as well as they are at the moment then more jokes are told so we are having a good time.”