Ray Wilkins and Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince have plenty in common - and the Chelsea assistant first team coach expects the Blues to face opposition today [Sunday] moulded in their boss's own image.

The two former England international midfielders both left the London clubs that nurtured them to play for Man United and then moved on to Milan, Wilkins to play for AC Milan, Ince to play for Inter. They were both considered successful in Italy.

Management and coaching followed after playing came to an end and in the build-up to this afternoon's game, Ince has spoken in complementary terms about Chelsea's attacking style, labelling us 'awesome'.

Wilkins does not see this as pre-match mind games.

'I think Paul Ince is being genuinely nice and honest,' he says. 'He has played in Man United sides who have played some terrific football and we have been playing some very good football.

'However we know it is going to be an extremely difficult game at Blackburn as Paul knows it is going to be very difficult for his side.

'We destroy people at times with our passing,' Wilkins claims, 'but we are aware that the game on Sunday will be one with aggression because that is what Blackburn are about with Paul as their manager.

'So it will be up to us to battle them from the first whistle and then on a good playing surface, hopefully our football will come through.'

Wilkins is not surprised Ince is part of a collection of former Man United players who are making a go of management, in similar fashion to the large band of ex-Chelsea players now in coaching roles throughout the game.

'Paul was a success in Italy and full credit to him,' Wilkins says. 'To play for Inter, it's a big old club. Obviously Man United is a big club but to go to a different country and be a success means he did very well indeed.

'He will have picked up a lot knowledge, not only from Manchester but from the continent and now he has got his coaching promotion from MK Dons to see if he can do well in the Premier League as well.

'Those former Man United players have been exceptional players and they are all doing good jobs. Even Bryan Robson, who has been relieved of his post at Sheffield United, people forget what he did at Middlesbrough.

'They have had the master to follow and it is nice to see young British managers pitching in there in the Premier League.'