How did you think Ancelotti came across in his first press conference?

I thought he handled everything pretty well. He started with a joke about John Terry just to warm everyone up and in some ways he attempted to portray himself as a bit of a joker. He was more relaxed than perhaps some would have expected and I thought he made a good first impression.

Ancelotti was keen to demonstrate he was able to speak English and win people over. Did his approach surprise you?

I think any manager who arrives in a new country at a big club is always going to want to launch something of a charm offensive and that is exactly what he did today. He was trying to get everyone onside by giving us a few nice lines but it's always difficult to gauge the real character of a manager at this stage. When the real action starts in a few weeks time we'll see what he is really like.

Ancelotti was keen to stress that Terry would be staying at Chelsea. Has that put the Manchester City rumours to bed or has that one still got a way to run?

I think that's up to Terry. I am pretty sure he will remain at Chelsea who are pretty confident he will stay. But at the moment he is stringing both parties along while quietly encouraging the offer from City. I think if anyone was offered a huge pay rise they are not going to say no straight away. Having said that I think he will stay.

What kind of a manager do you expect Ancelotti to be. Is he a disciplinarian?

I actually think he is more diplomatic than that. At Milan he has shown he is good at getting the best out of players with big egos and big personalities. He did wonders for David Beckham last season and in his eight years at the San Siro he has got the best out of an ageing team.

He is not a confrontational kind of guy, he just wouldn't have lasted long at Milan if he had been, because he has had to deal with an overbearing owner in Silvio Berlusconi so I would expect him to fit in well at Chelsea.

Are there any lingering doubts that Ancelotti is just here for the money, or do you genuinely believe he has something to prove?

Looking back, I think Scolari probably was at Chelsea for one final payday. But Ancelotti is a good deal younger and I think he is here for a fresh challenge. He has never worked outside of Italy and after eight pretty successful years at Milan I think he wants to prove that he can be a successful manager in the Premier League.