All of Italy will support Chelsea says Ancelotti

Ancelotti and Mourinho had a strained relationship when the former was in charge of Inter's city rivals AC Milan, and the Portuguese manager is unpopular among many fans due to his outspoken comments against other teams and the league authorities.

Inter yesterday said they plan to appeal against the three-game ban and 35,000 fine imposed on the former Blues boss for the handcuff gesture he made during Saturday's match with Sampdoria, in which two Inter players were sent off.

Ancelotti told Il Giornale: "All of Italy, apart from Inter supporters, will be a fan of Chelsea."

The 50-year-old also hit out at Mourinho for his criticism of those who have succeeded him at Stamford Bridge, with the former Porto boss keen to point out the relative lack of success experienced by the Blues since his departure.

"It is true that after him nobody has won anything for Chelsea," Ancelotti continued. "But that guy Grant (Avram, who guided Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2008) did not do so badly."

Frank Lampard was declared fit to fly out with Chelsea yesterday.

The England midfielder missed the weekend win over Wolves with a virus but returned to the squad, along with Brazilian defenders Alex and Juliano Belletti who were both back after knee problems.

Russian Yury Zhirkov has a calf problem and did not travel with the squad, giving coach Carlo Ancelotti a problem at left-back for tonight's match as Paulo Ferreira is not registered for the competition.

Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien, Deco (all knee) and Ashley Cole (ankle) also remain on the sidelines.