Posts Tagged ‘Roman Abramovich’

Carlo Ancelotti. Burying the Ghost of the Special One

Ancelotti has allowed Chelsea fans to move on from the Mourinho days

When Chelsea lifted the FA Cup on the 15th May earlier this year, becoming double winners for the first time in their history, Carlo Ancelotti achieved something no one else has.

He eclipsed Jose Mourinho.

When Mourinho left three years ago next week, many Chelsea supporters were in uproar at the absurdity of parting company with the greatest coach in the history of the club. Three years, some painful defeats and baffling decisions later, it seems Roman Abramovich was right all along.

With Ancelotti, Chelsea are becoming the team that the Russian owner has wanted all along, playing with flair and beauty whilst also showing passion and strength in equal measure. In fact, for the first time since he took over in 2003, it can be said he has as close to a perfect team as is possible.

Mourinho was never briefed to build a dynasty at the club; he was too abrasive for that. He is supremely motivated to win and as Premier League fans will know, that comes at any cost. His insatiable lust for victory was what Chelsea needed in the summer of 2004, nearly 50 years since the club had last climbed to the pinnacle of English football.

Of course, he delivered in fine style with back to back titles and restored pride to West London. His outbursts and controversial mutterings in the media were tolerated rather than encouraged by the Chelsea hierarchy, with the feeling that it was perhaps a necessary evil at a time when winning was all that mattered.

Results alone were never enough for the owner, however, and it came to pass that the Portuguese and Chelsea would part company in 2007, with the little known Avram Grant to take over.

It was a transitional phase in the future plans of Abramovich, letting Mourinho leave with his Curriculum Vitae significantly stronger and allowing the marketing men at the club to start work on repairing the image and reputation which they had gained under the relentless arrogance which came with the ‘Special One’.

Grant was never to be a full time appointment, just someone to guide the team through the rest of the season, picking up silverware where possible. Of course, he was denied any by a John Terry missed penalty in the Champions League final in 2008 for those who can’t remember.

Similarly, Luis Felipe Scolari was never intended to be the long term coach either, as in the summer of 2008 Abramovich met several times with then A.C Milan boss Ancelotti to discuss the managerial position at Chelsea. The Italian decided to spend another year with the Rossoneri, eventually joining the Blues in 2009.

Chelsea had their man. In fact, they had the man they had wanted to take charge before Mourinho in 2004. It was one of the worst kept secrets in Italy that Ancelotti was short listed by Chelsea to take over those six years ago, but wanted to stay with the club who had saved his managerial career after he was sacked by Juventus in 2001.

Ancelotti is a perfect fit for Chelsea and, more importantly, Abramovich. He worked with huge success at Milan for eight years, with two Champions League titles, the Italian league and Cup as well as the UEFA Super Cup and World Club Cup for good measure.

It was not only due to his success on the field that he was appointed. It was owing to his success working under another big name owner, Silvio Berlusconi, who is said to be a demanding and hugely ambitious man who is difficult to please. If Ancelotti could please him, he surely has what it takes to show more diplomacy when dealing with Abramovich than his more outspoken predecessor.

The other factor, and a major one at that, in his appointment was his amicable nature. ‘Carletto’ as he is known in his homeland, is notorious for his practical jokes and light hearted persona around the training ground and is generally a well liked figure (perhaps with the exception of Juventus fans, who received a middle finger salute when after a Milan victory in Turin some years ago).

This sort of personality is what Chelsea needs to build bridges with the public after years of being hated. It hasn’t taken long, with the focus of the media and public house conversations circling Chelsea’s brilliance on the field rather than their controversy off it. John Terry and Ashley Cole ‘love rat’ stories aside, people are coming round to the idea of the Blues as more than just an object of hate.

Some supporters might have been yearning for the Mourinho days whilst the club was in transition, indeed some may still feel that letting go of him was a mistake. The fact is, however, that there was no way that Stamford Bridge was big enough for two egos to work efficiently for any longer than they did.

The sacking of the greatest football coach of the 21st Century will continue to prove to be the best move for a club which just wants to be loved.

Seven Seasons Since Russian Revolution – Now It Is Time For Evolution

Revolution: a sudden, complete or marked change in something

In what have been the most successful seven seasons in the history of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich has turned the Blues from a relatively big English team to a worldwide franchise competing for Football’s top prizes every year. Based on the definition above, the takeover of Chelsea was certainly a definitive revolution.

Three Premier League titles, three FA Cup triumphs and two League Cups have been the result of the huge investment pumped into the West London club by the Russian billionaire who has become synonymous with Chelsea.

There can be no doubt that without him the club would still be trailing the wake of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. He has made Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in Europe and has done so not only by investment in playing staff.

His roubles have touched everything at the club, from the hand driers in the stadium toilets to the wonderful training facilities at Cobham. Yes, the Russian who made Chelsea his plaything in 2003 has certainly laid the foundations for success.

Of course, the players who have put on the Blue shirts at Stamford Bridge each week have been the integral part of the glory. Without Drogbas and Carvalhos the Chelsea side would never be able to compete for major silverware each season, and this is only possible because of the Russian’s cash.

The current Blues squad has its problems. A lack of creativity and the need for another back up goalkeeper are not the only issues facing Chelsea in 2010. The fact is, the team must start to evolve into an Abramovich ‘second generation’ side, as the players who have been so effective for the Londoners in recent years are coming towards the end of their playing days.

Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole are considered perhaps the spine of the Chelsea team, but all are heading towards the twilight of their careers. Terry and Cole have four years left at the top, but Lampard and Drogba are now 32 and cannot be expected to carry the side after next season. Without goals from them both Chelsea would not have won the league and cup last time out.

Evolution: a gradual change in something/ the gradual development of plants, animals, etc. over many years as they adapt to changes in their environment

Therefore there needs to be a change in SW6, a gradual development of a new squad, or one could say Evolution. Of course, this has already started with Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti leaving the club this summer and Ricardo Carvalho having one season left at the most.

The signings which the chequebook will be opened for must be youthful and shrewd. There must also be a more active role in the first team for the youth players who have done so well at junior level, and promised so much when shown a glimpse of the first team.

Gael Kakuta, Michael Mancienne, Sam Huchinson, Jeffry Bruma and Fabio Borini could be the next batch of players whose names grace the replica shirts in the stands and in parks, but only if they have the opportunity to learn and grow. For the team to evolve there must be a gradual inclusion of these young players as the old guard are faded out. This is the only way that the word success can become as synonymous with Chelsea Football club as Abramovich has.

Players such as the Brazilians Ramires and Neymar would be fantastic for the future of the team, blending them into a new Chelsea, a second generation just as Ferguson and Wenger have done at United and Arsenal.

Chelsea have one of the best coaches in the game today, with an outstanding record. However, it may be the club’s driving ambition to win the Champions League which hampers the progress of Ancelotti. If he is given three years to rebuild this squad, there could be tremendous rewards for those who had the patience to allow him to do so.

The irony is, however, that it is the man who has taken Chelsea this far who may hinder the transitional phase which faces his club in its near future. Winning the Champions League has always been the dream for Abramovich, but some patience now and building a new squad properly will reap huge rewards in the long term.

On the other hand, impatience and sacking the coach for the failure to win the coveted prize instantly will only delay the day that the European Cup can be added to the ever growing list of Chelsea honours.