On Tuesday night in the serene surroundings of Canada Water, 12 bloggers (myself included), one Sunday League team and decorated former England international Ray Wilkins descended upon Bacon’s College as part of Nivea’s enterprising ‘The Great Football Experiment’ campaign.
The event itself comprised a host of engaging activities, including FA coach-led skill sessions, fervently-contested seven-a-side contests, a mock press conference and the opportunity to quiz Wilkins himself.
Wilkins admitted that he would relish the prospect of working with former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti again.
The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge for 17 months before Wilkins was sacked in November 2010.
Ancelotti has recently been linked with a return to management in London, with Arsenal and Tottenham mooted as potential destinations.
“If he wanted me to back with him yes I would. He’s an excellent coach and a good human being – a nice fellow to work with,” he said.
“He’s already living in England so he hasn’t had to come back too far! He wants to work in England – he’s desperate to, but I wouldn’t know where.”
Wilkins also feels that his former side can challenge the two Manchester clubs for the Premier League title this season.
“Absolutely. They’re just coming up on the rails aren’t they?
“It’s vitally important that they beat Manchester United once, Manchester City once and Tottenham once.”
The former Blues coach believes that Frank Lampard, whose role at club and country level has come under scrutiny, provided the perfect riposte to those who had doubted him. Speaking after Lampard scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 5-1 defeat of Bolton, Wilkins said:
“I think he’s just being what he is, and that’s a top professional. He hasn’t got anything to prove, it was a kneejerk reaction to give him grief, saying he was finished.
“It was his way at the weekend of telling everybody, ‘I am still about, alive and kicking.’”
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