Other than the names John and Terry, the word Carlo Ancelotti kept coming back to as he was introduced to the media yesterday was “joke”. The new Chelsea manager may have been studying history in addition to English during the summer recess because all his recent predecessors would confirm that a sense of humour is essential to surviving the unique demands of life at Stamford Bridge.

On his first day in the job, Ancelotti greeted the inevitable questions about his long-term survival prospects with a cheery smile, without resorting to the gallows humour traditionally favoured by those occupying the second most perilous posting in European football after Real Madrid.

The Italian was keen to portray himself as a loveable joker who will put a collective smile on the faces of Chelsea’s players, fans and owner alike, ostensibly by regaining the Premier League trophy after a three-year wait and winning the Champions League for the first time. All while maintaining a steady stream of one-liners, naturally.

Ancelotti’s opening gag initially backfired — there were gasps of disbelief when he suggested that Terry would not be Chelsea’s captain for the forthcoming season — but after that minor gaffe he got his message across in an impressive fashion. By cleverly praising Terry as a man of his word and a symbol of the club, Ancelotti made it politically difficult for Terry to leave for Manchester City, no matter what riches they are prepared to throw his way.

“John Terry is a symbol of this team, but I don’t know if he will be the captain next season,” Ancelotti said. “Naturally, I joke! I like to joke in the press conference. I like to joke and use irony because football is to be enjoyed, by me and you and everyone. Maybe I will joke in the future.

“Terry is a great player, but also a great man. When a great man says one thing, it’s that. Terry is not a normal player. He’s a symbol for this team, and Terry knows very well that he is the symbol of this team.”

It is easy for a football manager to seduce in the height of summer as Luiz Felipe Scolari demonstrated 12 months ago, but Ancelotti’s opening display was more impressive, and not solely because of his superior grasp of grammar. Whereas Scolari started an argument regarding Frank Lampard’s proposed contract extension in similarly difficult circumstances last summer, Ancelotti effectively ended the Terry debate by dismissing City as arrivistes. Ancelotti is well placed to assess the limits of their impressive ambition after all, because he was the coach of AC Milan when Kaká rejected a potential world-record £103 million move to City last January.

“Manchester City were very close to Kaká, but it was difficult because City weren’t playing in the Champions League,” he said. “For the players it’s important to play in the Champions League. Football is not only money and salaries. It’s emotions, it’s passion, it’s many other things.

“For Manchester City it’s a question of price, but for Terry there is no price. For him and for us the story continues: Chelsea and Terry. I like to have a captain like Terry. He is very close to Paolo Maldini for professionalism, for quality. He will be the best captain for Chelsea. Terry will be captain of Chelsea for ever.”

Ancelotti was less open when discussing his relationship with the other key individual at the club, Roman Abramovich, the owner whose influence is far more than symbolic. But having worked happily under Silvio Berlusconi for the past eight years Ancelotti is hardly entering new territory. Those who observed him at close quarters at Milan claim that rather than tactical acumen or outrageous talent-spotting, Ancelotti’s strongest suits are supreme man-management and well-developed people skills, a view supported by yesterday’s display of easy charm.

“I, Roman, the club have the same objectives,” he said. “To do very well this season, next season, and to win. I would like to have a team that play well, play good football, creative football, and naturally to win. Because for a coach, it’s important to win, but also to be a team with good characteristics, to play well and with organisation.

“Berlusconi is, firstly, a fan of the team []. It’s the same for Roman. He loves his club. It’s great fun. This is very important for all the people who work in the club.

“They are both so intelligent that I don’t ask them, and they don’t ask me delicate questions. At the moment there’s no problem with the owner or with anyone, and I don’t think I will have a problem.”

Ancelotti will not be given the same resources as some of his predecessors, though he is still hopeful of adding to a squad that he concedes is lacking in creativity, even after Yuri Zhirkov, the Russia midfield player, completed his £18 million move from CSKA Moscow yesterday. Franck Ribéry, the Bayern Munich winger, remains Chelsea’s primary transfer target, with Wesley Sneijder, of Real Madrid, a potential cut-price alternative, but Ancelotti is confident that his methods can make a difference in their own right.

“You can add creativity not only with creative players but with a creative organisation,” he said. “You can change the idea of the team with the same players. It depends on the manager.” If nothing else Ancelotti’s arrival ensures another fascinating season for Chelsea, particularly as the one moment his cheery disposition altered was when he was asked about José Mourinho, the man whose shadow he must escape after the Portuguese followed him to Milan last season.

“I don’t know any ‘Special One’,” Ancelotti said. “I don’t want to do comparisons with other coaches. I have respect for all the coaches and a good relationship with all, but I want to do it my way. I want to fix only my way.”

The millions who follow the Premier League panto will be reassured to discover that Chelsea’s new joker also possesses a dark side.

First impressions

Guus Hiddink A class act from the outset as he welcomed the media in February in the Stamford Bridge dressing room, setting the tone for a successful reign that was all too brief.

Luiz Felipe Scolari Caused internal strife last July by claiming that Frank Lampard was ready to sign a new contract, but impressed with laid-back authority.

Avram Grant A bridesmaid at his own wedding in September 2007, almost overlooked during Peter Kenyon’s unconvincing defence of José Mourinho’s dismissal.

José Mourinho Went down in footballing folklore with a bravura performance in June 2005, verbally slaughtering his predecessor, Claudio Ranieri, and pronouncing himself as “the Special One”.