There comes a time, in the life of every man living abroad, when he gets a hankering to return home.
In the case of most Italians, it comes along two or three times an hour—and it must be getting all the more insistent for Carlo Ancelotti.
He probably doesn't have to suffer the overcooked pasta, or the watery, overpriced espresso that his fellow countrymen often endure in the UK. Nonetheless, there is a feeling that his time is coming to an end in England.
These things almost always start off well and end up badly.
Last season, of course, he was busy singing Volare from the top of a bus as the Blues celebrated a superb double. Life was sweet. His team proved to be a crushing force on the domestic scene and looked destined to dominate for some time.
However, that has not proven to be the case.
Just as the success was not all Carletto's doing, neither is the relative failure.
His team is another year older and did not invest heavily in the summer, only to then panic in the January transfer window. The money spent on Fernando Torres is already looking like one of the top 10 worst deals of all time.
The Italian remains a fine manager but he seems to be struggling to find the right way to get the best out of the resources at his disposal.
Every manager claims they are under no pressure to play their most expensive signing, but that must often be untrue. Currently, his big name Spaniard's best position really should be sitting in the stands.
It's almost certain that Roman Abramovich is drumming his fingers on the desk.
It seems hard to believe that patience is a quality which any Russian oligarch is blessed with in abundance. Most of them know that their position is perilous and want results immediately—in this case, it's meant a swift succession of men in charge at Stamford Bridge.
While Chelsea talk of stability, they do not actually put it into practice. How many people believe Ancelotti is likely to be in charge at the end of next season? The form book suggests he will be lucky to make it many matches into his next campaign at all.
That is why it would be best for the former Milan boss to return home to Serie A. There is a lovely little job waiting for him at Roma, a club where he remains revered.
He helped bring them a second league title back in the 1980s and can still dine out for free in restaurants run by fans of the Giallorossi.
Why should he wait to be shoved out the door like Gianfranco Zola or Roberto Di Matteo when he could go on his own terms?
It might make financial sense to hang about and be sacked, but why not follow his heart back to the banks of the Tiber? Italian football would be a better place for his return, too.
All of which would leave Roberto Mancini as the only Italian in charge of an EPL side, and his days at Manchester City look numbered, too.
Another big-spending side which wants results immediately, they seem unlikely to keep faith with him for many more matches. After an initial love affair, the novelty quickly starts to fade.
Let's call it quits now and get our boys back home where they belong.
Michelle Obama Kerry Suseck FSU Cowgirls Abbie Cornish Krista Allen
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