Dennis Wise taught Gianfranco Zola his first English words after his arrival at Chelsea in 1996, but it was only after he had exchanged pleasantries several times that the Italian realised their meaning. “People looked at me strangely and by the time I found out, it was too late,” Zola said, without divulging their exact nature.

Zola and Wise played with and against each other at Stamford Bridge, but they will again be speaking a different language, albeit in newer roles, today. Zola will take charge of West Ham United for the first time against Newcastle United, where Wise has been the executive director (football) since January. The two spoke on the telephone this week and might have dinner soon, but neither will expect a crumb of comfort from the other if they lose. Zola wants to kick off his managerial reign in style and Wise is seeking a performance to deflect criticism of his position in the boardroom.

“I don't know what he's doing there,” Zola said, before joking: “He's probably tackling someone on the board. I was quite surprised because I know he was enjoying management. [But] it is as strange to see my name attached with ‘manager'. It's a pity that we are playing a match like this where it is vital for us to get a good result.”

As a player, Wise often faced a hostile welcome, but now that extends to his own club's fans. In contrast, even the West Ham supporters, despite their club's rivalry with Chelsea, admired Zola for his flair, which should help his transition to manager at Upton Park. “Dennis had a tough time and it's a pity,” Zola said. “He's a good man, although some people don't like him. He was always positive. He was my skipper and I always respected him. He was the guy who used to get everyone together and he always put his face in front. I admired him very much.”

Both clubs lost their managers within 24 hours early this month, although their respective searches for a successor have been very different. Chris Hughton will continue in temporary charge of Newcastle, while West Ham had Zola in place eight days after the resignation of Alan Curbishley.

During his first week coaching his new team, Zola changed to shorter, intensive training sessions with more focus on players working with the ball. He has put down a lack of concentration late in matches to their fitness. “The sessions are very demanding, but there is enjoyment,” he said. “The players have already said to me they like it very much. We will try to do something different on the pitch, although I don't have a magic stick. I have only been working with the players for a week. I am not pretentious [enough] to say that everything will be all right. So the crowd need to be patient.”

Zola wants to play the “West Ham way”. His contention is that the English appreciate a “fantasist” more than the Italians, which goes some way to explaining the respect he earned in seven years in this country.

Zola's style developed from playing, at 23, with Diego Maradona at Napoli. “He was a great influence,” Zola said. “I had in front of me the best player in the world so I felt lucky. He was a lovely, simple guy, easy to talk to, humble and genuine. He gave advice to young players. I used to stay after training with him trying free kicks. When you have that, it inspires you to do better. I worked for seven or eight hours on my game but I didn't feel the fatigue and I want to get to that point here. I want the players to enjoy it.”

Shay Given returns to Upton Park today for the first time since suffering a dreadful bowel injury that could have finished his career two years ago. The Newcastle United and Ireland goalkeeper has endured a slow road back to fitness after belatedly having surgery on a problem more typical of a car-crash victim than a goalkeeper, but is hoping that his days on the treatment table are over. “I always felt I could get back to where I was,” Given said. “I kept breaking down - that was the hardest thing to get my head around.”