Carlo Ancelotti has taunted José Mourinho ahead of tomorrow's Champions League game at San Siro by saying that every neutral in Italy will be willing Chelsea to beat Internazionale because of the way the ­Portuguese coach conducts himself.

Ancelotti and Mourinho had a strained relationship when they were in charge of Milan and Inter respectively, and the Italian's remarks will raise the temperature in the build-up to their meeting in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.

The Chelsea manager spoke out after Mourinho repeatedly mimicked being handcuffed when two Inter players were sent off during Saturday's goalless draw at home to Sampdoria. The gestures, made to fans and television cameras, yesterday landed him a three-game Serie A touchline ban and a €40,000 (£35,100) fine from Italy's football association.

Ancelotti told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale that thanks to Mourinho's behaviour "the whole of Italy, Inter fans excluded, will be supporting Chelsea"tomorrow night.

Ancelotti also rebutted Mourinho's statement that Chelsea have suffered since he left in September 2007. He pointed out that Avram Grant led the team to runners‑up places in the Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup that season after taking over. "Grant did not do that badly," Ancelotti said.

The Chelsea manager insisted, however, that he was not being drawn into mind games with his opposite number, to whom he referred in his autobiography as "His Mourinhoness, comparing himself to Jesus" and "His Specialness". Mourinho said this month that Chelsea were still ­reliant on his players and tactics.

"Mourinho is great at building up the atmosphere and the team but that is not my way," Ancelotti said. He described Mourinho's Inter as "the strongest in recent times" and said he would not "leave all the counter-attacking to Inter".

Nerves within Inter's camp will have been strained by three successive draws in Serie A. After lagging by 14 points earlier this season, Roma are five points behind in second place. Third-placed Milan lost 3-2 at home to Manchester United in a Champions League tie last week after Wayne Rooney scored twice. Ancelotti said he told Leonardo, Milan's coach, that "without [Rooney], Manchester are at 50%".