Reggiolo, a small farming town nestled between Milan and Parma, has two claims to fame. It is the venue for the national burping competition and birthplace of Carlo Ancelotti. The latter has proved an infinite source of civic pride.

From Milan to the Parmesan cheese-making centre of Reggiolo, it was impossible to find anyone who has a bad word to utter about the new Chelsea manager. That is except for the self-appointed “Special One”. But more of him later.

I visited the Ancelotti family home for tonight’s special programme on BBC Radio 5 Live. His 87-year-old father, Giuseppe, has followed his boy Carletto’s progress from Italy player and his midfield role in that majestic AC Milan side of the late 1980s, and on to Champions League triumphs as coach of the club.

“I am eternally proud,” said the former farmer. “I get very emotional when I talk about him.”

As Ancelotti showed during his opening press conference at Stamford Bridge last week, he has a keen sense of humour. “He is always joking with people,” Giuseppe said. “Carletto’s very light-hearted and takes things in his stride. He’s very philosophical about life. During the bad times he doesn’t get down.”

And is he pleased with his move to Chelsea? “Yes, I’m very happy about him going there,” he said. “I’ve never been to London but I know there’s a lot of quality in the team. The other reason is that Roman Abramovich \ was a very down-to-earth man when he met my son. That impressed Carlo very much.”

Ancelotti’s nephew, Luca, sitting with Giuseppe in the family home, said: “His move to Chelsea came as no surprise to us. Mr Abramovich has courted Carlo since last year. Carlo was at AC Milan for eight years. He achieved all he could here.

“Another important thing is that England loves the game. In Italy there’s more interest in the discussion about the game rather than the game itself.”

Luca plans to travel to a Chelsea game, but Giuseppe is housebound. “My legs don’t work too well,” he said. “And I don’t like aeroplanes.”

The local football club in Reggiolo, where Ancelotti played as a teenager before being spotted by Parma, display fading photographs of the young Carletto on every wall of their clubhouse.

Adone Bertazzoni, the club president, said: “He came here when he was 13 or 14. It was obvious he had a talent. He was a popular boy, but he was quiet and well behaved.

“Through the years he has visited us regularly. He likes to come to the bar and talk with old friends. He is modest. He never acts like he’s special.”

When visiting the Milan training facility at Milanello you sense some brooding dark clouds. Graffiti pleads forlornly for Kaká to stay and for Silvio Berlusconi, the owner, to go. But the real sense of loss surrounds the departure of Ancelotti.

“Those Chelsea boys are very lucky to have him,” Zeljko Kalac, the Milan and Australia goalkeeper, said. “They are getting a great coach. He got the team to play for him here and he’ll do the same at Chelsea. He’s a quiet guy. There won’t be tea cups flying at half-time, but he’s got a great rapport with the players. He knows what they are thinking and what they need.

“His humour is also an important part of his make-up. You guys in England like a black, dry humour. He’ll fit in well with that. He's good fun.”

For a predictably sceptical note I sought the opinion of the former Chelsea manager, José Mourinho, at Inter Milan’s Pinetina training ground.

The Portuguese had the occasional difference of opinion with Ancelotti last season. “So how will your good friend Carlo Ancelotti cope in the Premier League?” I asked.

“He is not my friend,” Mourinho snapped back, those hazel eyes ablaze.

Once he had found a level of composure, Mourinho said: “It is easier in England because in England you think about football for 90 minutes a week. Here they enjoy it more before and after the game, rather than during the game. I have had to adapt.

“It’s more difficult to play here. They play with their brain rather than their heart. Ancelotti will find it different but he has the qualities to succeed.”

With that, he was gone to take his first training session of the new campaign with little prospect of having the spending power to improve his chances of success in Europe. Reggiolo’s favourite son probably has better prospects, with or without John Terry.

Brian Alexander presents Sport Specials on BBC Radio 5 Live. Hear Just One Carletto tonight on 5 Live Sport from 7pm.