For anyone who has ever encountered the Chelsea legend that is Ron Harris, you approach him with a degree of trepidation.
He's not known as 'Chopper' for nothing and he certainly doesn't mince his words - he tell's you just what he thinks.
Thankfully this particular encounter was on the telephone. But I have met Ron, 71, on numerous occasions on match days at Stamford Bridge where he has been part of Roman Abramovich's revolution of Chelsea FC, bringing in former players as hospitality ambassadors.
Ron is also very much in demand for his one-man show which he takes all around the country. Here, he regales customers of tales when Chelsea were the kings of the King's Road and a tad roguish off it. It includes a Q&A session with fans that allow them hear Ron's views of everyone he's played against - and kicked in the process to manager's he played for and watched from the side lines - Jose Mourinho is one case in point.
But I'm chatting to Ron ahead of his Legends Tour of Stamford Bridge on Father's Day - Sunday, June 19.
He will take customers around the Stamford Bridge stadium - inside the players changing room, press room and other assorted behind-the scenes goodies.
The Fulham Chronicle and Chelsea-Mad had a great competition where two lucky people will join Ron on the tour on June 19.
The. winner drawn out of the hat was Paul Gregory from Ashford in Kent.
Paul, 56 is unsure who to take, his brother or his son.
Either way, congratulations to him and we all hope he has a great day with Ron.
There were many correct answer to the question how many games did Ron Play for the Blues?
Hackney-born Ron himself gives the answer - so don't try and argue with him! - he won't like it.
"I played 795 times for Chelsea," he told me.
"Mind you, I think I scored 13 goals - but the record books have me down as scoring 14 - so what do I know!"
But Ron is also a Chelsea watcher as well as a Chelsea fan and he was, like all fans bemused by the terrible season just gone.
"It was a very disappointing season," he said.
"Especially after the season, before when the Blues were a top side."
And the reason?
"Well, they did not start very well did they. They seemed not to have responded to Jose Mourinho at all.
" You can't knock the man, can you after what he has won. But it seems only to work for. Couple of seasons before it all goes wrong.
" Look at his first spell at the club - cups and league title. Then when he goes off to Inter Milan, the same thing again plus the Champions League. But a couple of seasons down the line and it off again, this time to Real Madrid, before another short spell at Chelsea. He wins trophies but he seems not to be a man who likes to stay a long time at a club."
Mourinho has now turned up at Manchester United and Harris believes that it could also ends in tears there too.
"Fans are fickle, as well," he said. "It rem,aims to be seem how long he stays at United. But if there are half a dozen games where things don't go right, fans will start questioning the sacking of Louis van Gaal. But I think he will change the club - there will be players out and others coming in."
One of those players on Mourinho's radar is Chelsea's player of the season William. And while Harris believes the Brazil winger will start the season in Blue, he would not rule out a massive move to United before the end of the transfer window.
"Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to transfers," he said.
"Who would have expected Jaime Vardy seemingly going to Arsenal."
It's all about the agents nowadays. They didn't exist in my time. There is more money in it for them if their player moves around. But I think it's important that clubs like Chelsea keep their best players."
And what of Eden Hazard - he says he is staying next season after strong suggestion of a move back to France with Paris St-Germain?
"I'm not sure he and Jose saw eye to eye last season," he said.
"He was clearly not 100 per cent. But after a short break, after Jose had been sacked, he finished the season as strongly as he had played the whole of the previous one."
That brings Harris right up to now and Chelsea's prospects for next season.
"Well the side are going to need some defensive support," said Harris, who as a top-class defender himself knows a thing or two about right playing across the back line - he did it enough times.
"I like the boy Kurt Zouma. He is a top prospect as a centre-back. He is quick that's for sure. But I don't know if he will be ready for the start of the season due to his bad injury. If there is a chance he won't be back before Christmas, then Chelsea will have to go into the market."
Chelsea do have gary Cahill and for one more season John Terry.
But neither are in Harris's mind as a likely successful partnership: "Look at Chelsea's philosophy when it comes to players of a certain age - John was never too quick was he? And as you get older, well, let's say he will start games, but they will be numbered.
"When Terry and Cahill played together they looked vulnerable - I think they have to play Zouma when fit - he is lightening quick.
"So I think maybe Chelsea need four or five new players"
Up front, Harris thinks that with Mourinho out of the picture, Diego Costa could become the powerhouse he was in his first season at the Bridge.
"He did well in the beginning of his Chelsea career when he came from Atletico Madrid," he said. "And as soon as Jose left, he started to play well again."
Harris wonders if ever there will be a youngster that come again through the ranks like he did. John Terry being the most notable As the last one.
'Maybe it's time to go with the youths," he said.
"But no one has played regularly recently. Maybe Jose simply did not want to play them, did not want to give them a chance. There was an expression in my time and it could be the same today and that is 'Youngsters don't win you matches but they don't cheat either.'"
Perhaps that win at all costs mentality and philosophy is where Chelsea are nowadays in the global sense - they simply cannot afford not to win.
With Italy coach Antonio Conte ready to take up the reins left vacant by interim boss Guus Hiddink, Harris ruminates on the sorts of managers that he likes.
He can't criticise Mourinho as he brought titles and cups to Stamford Bridge, but he does recognise that some players simply didn't see it that way.
"I loved Tommy Docherty," said Harris.
"He gave me my Chelsea debut."
That was a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in February 1962. He was part of the winning FA Youth cup side the previous year. Ron went on to captain Chelsea, win the League Cup, FA Cup, and European Cup Winners' Cup.
"Another top manager was Dave Sexton," he said.
Harris feels that Chelsea managers during the 1970s which saw relegation and promotions left a lot to be desired.
"Geoff Hurst was a great player but not a manager," he said. "And Eddie McCreadie, well we had a young team, he got us promotion, but the club had little money. Players were not being paid on time and he wanted more." He said.
Harris will be a familiar figure on match days around Stamford Bridge and it's something he loves doing. he's especially appreciative of owner Roman Abramovich and his attitude towards how he wants Chelsea to be perceived - as a club with history, populated by people who forged that history.
It's fair to say, Harris won't have former club owner Ken Bates on his Christmas card list but does have time for the Russian owner who came after him.
"I was doing a bit of telly for the club," explains Harris.
"Then I got a tap on my shoulder and asked if I could stay for a bit. A while later in come Mr Abramovich. To cut a long story short we chat for the best part of an hour. In the end, he invites me and Peter Osgood to come back to the club to help out on the hospitality side - 15 years later, I'm still doing it.
"I might have my events up and down the country, but Chelsea comes first with me and always will."
One feels that that final part of the statement alone should adorn the entrance hall of Stamford Bridge, where all can see it, players, staff and visitors.
It certainly should find a prominent home in the redeveloped stadium when it's built.
And Harris should also have a statue - like The King of Stamford Bridge Peter Osgood has now.
That would be a fitting tribute to the man who has played more times for Chelsea in it's history - Ronald Edward Harris - Chopper to his friends - and foes.
If you would like to join Ron on his Legends Tour of Stamford Bridge on Father's Day on Sunday, June 19, then contact the club directly or go to www.chelseafc.com. Tickets are £70 each.