The Blues travel to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing victory would send them top of the table just over two months after they languished 15 points behind United.
The also crashed out of the Champions League to Sir Alex Ferguson's men last month, a defeat which appeared to end their hopes of silverware this season and left Ancelotti all but resigned to losing his job.
However, the Italian believes Sunday's match bears comparison to the biggest game in club football, saying: "For us, it's like a final.
"We wanted to play the final of the Champions League, but we have to be happy to play this different kind of final. We can compare it to a final. We have to prepare for this game like it's a final.
"There is a lot of pressure around us to prepare for this game, but you have to have the skills to stay relaxed, maintain good control of your emotions, not be too afraid or worried, because that uses energy, and you need that during the game."
Source: PA
Source: PA