Gianfranco Zola will renew old rivalries with Roberto Mancini on Sunday afternoon having faced his friend many times in their distinguished playing careers.
The duo were Italian internationals together in the early 90s as well as regular adversaries in Serie A. This will be the first time that they have squared up in a coaching capacity, with Mancini having replaced Mark Hughes in the Manchester City hot-seat earlier this season.
"We have played against each other for so many years, and been competitors also for the national team," said Zola. "I remember before the World Cup in 1994. Going to America we were in contention for a place. It was me and him [before Zola got the nod for the final squad]. We have faced each other many times.
"It will be strange to be facing each other in the dugout. We are not going to fight that is for sure. It will be pleasant."
Zola had every sympathy with Mancini's City for just missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification after Tottenham Hotspur earned fourth spot with a 1-0 win against them at Eastlands on Wednesday night. "It can happen," Zola said. "Man City should maybe have done better in certain opportunities but Tottenham have been unbelievable."
The manager is also looking forward to welcoming back Craig Bellamy, the striker sold by the club in January 2009 despite enjoying what he has since described as one of the "happiest periods" of his career at the Boleyn Ground. "I will give him a good reception because on and off the pitch he was such an important player for me.
"I don't know what happened behind the scenes. The only thing I can say is that we missed him. He was a good player for us."
While Zola said some fans may still have feelings over the manner in which Bellamy departed, he was in no doubt about the welcome waiting for Carlos Tevez. "I am 100 per cent convinced that Tevez is going to get a very good reception because he has done such a good job for this club."
Zola himself had a fantastic reception earlier in the week, after playing in the Tony Carr Testimonial. He scored a tremendous goal and then had 14,000 plus on their feet to applaud him off the pitch when substituted late-on.
"It was fantastic," said Zola. "It meant a lot really because at the end of the day, people are allowed to doubt my job because it may be good or it may not. I really appreciate the fans. At the end of the day, what we do is not about money. We do it because we enjoy it. We want to play and give pleasure to the supporters. Such a reception was very good.
"There is one thing I want to say and that goes for me and my staff. The passion and the amount of effort we put into the job is massive. I appreciate that the people understand that. It was everything for me, I really enjoyed it.
"If you said would you do it again, I would say 'yes'. It was also very good for me to go on the pitch and be along with my players because for a year and a half I have been on the bench. I wanted to give more and come into the pitch but I wasn't allowed! To be out there with them the other day was a fantastic feeling, trust me."