Ancelotti plans '20-year' reign

Longevity is not a word readily associated with Chelsea in the Roman Abramovich era, but Carlo Ancelotti insists he can help usher in a new era of stability at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian is the sixth manager to have been employed by Abramovich since he completed his takeover in 2003, with only Jose Mourinho, who remained in situ for three years, enjoying a prolonged spell in charge. The last three men to be ensconced in the Chelsea dug-out – Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and, as a caretaker, Guus Hiddink – all failed to see out a complete season before departing amid varying levels of acrimony.

Chelsea's revolving-door approach stands in stark contrast to the patience shown in Arsène Wenger by Arsenal, despite his lack of recent silverware, but on the eve of his first confrontation with the Frenchman in English football, Ancelotti has claimed he wants to emulate his achievement in creating a dynasty.

''My objective is to keep this position for a long time, and to maintain the club's position at the top of the Premier League and doing well in the Champions League,'' he said.

''I think that this is a good thing, to maintain stability in the club. Mourinho did very well here. Other coaches had difficulties but now I hope to keep the same line of Mourinho.

''I never thought that I train for money. For sure, the club pay me to train this team, but I'm here because of my passion and enthusiasm. Chelsea is a like a family and there is a good atmosphere here.''

Ancelotti's assertion that he could spend ''20 years'' in west London might have been delivered with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek but the 50-year-old is used to being granted time by owners who would ordinarily be regarded as trigger-happy, having survived eight years under Silvio Berlusconi at Milan, a feat almost unheard of in the volatile world of Serie A.