Everton legend Duncan Ferguson says he enjoyed working with Carlo Ancelotti.
Ferguson was on Ancelotti's staff before the Italian left for Real Madrid.
"I knew he was going through a difficult time personally with his family and things like that," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"It was difficult for Carlo at that moment in time. I knew behind the scenes that it had been tough for him the last few months at Everton. I knew that because I was so close to him.
"The man has been class with me. I have total respect for him; we actually went on holiday together, and I have been to watch Real Madrid training and stayed in his villa.
"I was in contact with him regularly throughout last season. I texted him before some of the Champions League games, and he was actually texting me back going down the tunnel to the matches, and I was thinking, 'Jesus, he is texting me!'
"When he left, I knew it was heading that way for a long time because certain things had happened behind the scenes, and it was tough for him.
"He was down in Crosby, and then he got broken into, and I have a standing joke with him because they robbed the safe, but there was nothing in it!
"There wasn't a thing in it because he wasn't too keen on going into his pockets; I remember that. The first time I brought Carlo to Liverpool, I paid for everything; in fact, I seemed to pay for everything every time I went out with Carlo."