Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has given FA Cup final opponents Arsenal the ultimate compliment by telling them: we want to be like you.
But Arsene Wenger has not afforded Ranieri's team the same respect, insisting his side will win on Saturday to complete the first part of a Premiership and Cup double.
Both managers were talking ahead of this weekend's showpiece final in Cardiff, and Wenger in particular was brimming with confidence.
"You can look calm without being calm but I'm always confident," he said. "What takes the nerves away is to have a huge belief in your team, knowing they have a big motivation and will give everything to win.
"These players know how to win. I said three or four months ago that this team will win the championship and the FA Cup. It's not done - it's all to do. But we are very close.
"Only at the end of the season can you say which team is the best in England and that is the champions. I believe that will be us."
With Arsenal on the brink of pipping Manchester United to the Premiership title, it is no wonder that Wenger's opposite number sees the north London club as the yardstick Chelsea hope to match.
"To win this final is very important for the improvement of the players," said Ranieri, who won the Coppa Italia as boss of Fiorentina and the Spanish Cup with Valencia three years ago.
"If we win they will be very sure of themselves. The improvement will happen quicker.
"But for us to get to the same level it will take time because Arsene Wenger has been at Arsenal a long time and I want to build.
"Look at the table, they are the best. I admire them and this team played very well in the Champions League, in my opinion.
"We want to work together for a long time and I think then we can do the same more or less as Arsenal.
"We want to fight for the title and go into the Champions League, we want to be a good team in England and if possible in Europe."
Whatever happens at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, however, Chelsea will have failed to meet Ranieri's pre-season target of a top-four place and Champions League football next season.
He admits silverware from Cardiff will compensate, though, saying: "Yes, of course it would.
"But when you give everything you have, with all your heart, and there are other teams better than you, well done to them.
"Well done Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle. Now I want to finish fifth. That's normal.
"I think it's been a good season because although my target was to go in the Champions League it was also to improve on last season."
