Guardiola, Mourinho and Ancelotti ready for old battle with new clubs
With two Champions League titles each, Guardiola, Ancelotti and Mourinho prepare to lead their new clubs into a familiar fight
Experienced as they are there will still be a few first-night nerves this week as Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho set off on new Champions League journeys with plenty to prove and reputations to polish.
Each with two Champions League triumphs on their managerial resumes, two of them are attempting to work their European magic in new surroundings while the third has returned to the club at which the continent's biggest club prize proved elusive.
After a year-long sabbatical, having twice taken Barcelona to European glory in a glittering reign, Guardiola has arrived at Bayern Munich tasked with retaining the trophy won in such style by Jupp Heynckes in May.
Ancelotti, after his brief stay at Paris Saint-Germain, will be expected to deliver Real Madrid's 10th European Cup without delay, having done so twice with Milan.
Mourinho, who Ancelotti has replaced in the Spanish capital, will seek to steer Chelsea all the way to the final in Lisbon having returned to London determined to win the club game's biggest prize with a third club.
Guardiola's Bayern open the defence of their crown at home to CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid will unleash Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in Turkey against Galatasaray, while Chelsea face Swiss side FC Basel at Stamford Bridge.
Rafa Benitez, another manager with a proven Champions League pedigree, will have to hit the ground running as his Napoli side host last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund in what looks like being a devilishly difficult group F.