ROBERTO DI MATTEO, Chelsea's new £4.9 million midfielder, has named the man he believes will be the key to the Blues hopes of glory. And, no, it is not his Italian compatriot, Gianluca Vialli.
Record signing di Matteo, who was outstanding in Chelsea's Umbro International Tournament triumph at the weekend, when they took the trophy by beating hosts Nottingham Forest and Dutch champions Ajax, picked out skipper Dennis Wise as the leading influence on Ruud Gullit's exciting, new-look squad.
The chirpy Cockney midfielder's future at Stamford Bridge shad looked in doubt after Gull it took over from Glenn Hoddle. The Dutchman was reported to be unhappy about Wise's jocular attitude and an alleged lack of respect for his management-style.
But both men have dismissed such suggestions, and former Lazio ace di Matteo said: "Dennis loves to have a joke now and then but he is deadly serious on the pitch and a wonderful player to lead the team.
"I believe I have already formed an excellent understanding with him. He works so hard and has very good skill in making space for other players. He is the greatest influence on the team and I am very happy to be playing with him."
Wise said: "We are all looking forward to the season with a lot of confidence. Ruud's come in and had us working very hard - much harder than before. He expects certain things and you have to come up to his standards, because he's the boss.
"But I've enjoyed the work in pre-season. And it can only lift you when players like Vialli, Roberto and Frank Lebouef are brought to the club."
When Gullit took over he summarily dispensed with many of the methods used by Hoddle at Stamford Bridge - which included the employment of a reflexologist, a dietician and even a faith-healer - to impose his own firm, football doctrine, based on a vast international experience.
He has brought in former British Olympic sprinter Ade Mafe as a fitness-trainer after telling the Chelsea players their physical condition was not good enough. And England international Wise was allegedly in trouble for disputing that verdict - and referring to Gullit, in dressing room banter, as "Old Big Nose".
But Wise said: "That was just some silly story in a newspaper. There are certain things in people you can't change. Ruud is all for pasta and health foods, and that's fine, but I still like my tea and biscuits now and then. There's no problem, Ruud is Ruud and I'm me.
Gullit, in fact, has been delighted with Chelsea's build-up to the season, but won't get carried away with Sunday's 2-0 triumph over Ajax, as they have more demanding games to come against Sampdoria in Genoa on Thursday and PSV Eindhoven at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in defender Steve Clarke's testimonial.
Gullit, who expects to play against Sampdoria after recovering from a calf injury, said: "The important thing is that with Lebouef, di Matteo and VialIi the spine of the team is looking strong.
Vialli, the most spectacular of Gull it's three foreign captures - even though he was a free signing at nearly 32 - finally made his Chelsea bow as a second half substitute against Ajax, and said: "I was very pleased with it considering it was my first match in two months.
"The team played well and I think we can play even better."
Gullit warned: "Only one or two players are certain of their places in the team. We have a lot of competition now and that is a very good thing. We can adapt and play different tactics and it is important to me that the players have shown already that they can respond to changes.
Chelsea still have injured centre backs Michael Duberry and David Lee - both outstanding last season - to come into the team, but they face a fierce fight for inclusion with Lebouef, the £2.5 million Frenchman from Strasbourg, showing up as a star performer at the weekend.
Former England and Manchester United defender Mike Duxbury is having trials with his home-town club Accrington Stanley.
