It has of course become common knowledge that The ‘Interim’ Rafa Benitez will be leaving his temporary post at the end of the season irrespective of the clubs final position in the EPL. He could of course guide the club to their second European trophy in two years, but as history shows even winning the big one didn’t save fan favourite Roberto Di Mateo. It is perhaps only fair to reflect on a very hostile period at in SW6 with fans anger being directed at the former arch rival Rafa. As if managing Liverpool was bad enough, he had to follow RDM whose popularity as a player was only passed when he became the first manager to guide the aging squad to the Holy Grail that is winning the champions league.
Under Benitez there has been some highs along with the obvious lows the team reached the semi-final of the FA cup and had the draw been kinder would have probably made the final, they are about to play the semi-final of the Europa League (he can only win the competitions he is in) and look fairly certain to get a top 4 place in the EPL. He is clearly working in a situation where he doesn’t have complete control over squad selection and had seemingly managed the squad, who are set to play almost 70 games this season, well. For all these positives the Rafa Reign will forever be remembered as one of the darker periods within the club, fan protests, the end of the amazing Frank Lampard (albeit out of Benitez’s control) and a sense of change as to the power and lure Chelsea holds to managers.
Not all of these ‘negatives’ are directly to do with Benitez; he simply became a figure head of hate. There has just become a realisation that Chelsea perhaps doesn’t appeal to big big mangers like it once did. Since the untimely sacking of Carlo Ancelotti it can be argued that Chelsea have failed to attract a ‘World Class’ manager. AVB was a young man who had a magnificent year with Porto, but at the time could certainly not be considered one of the best managers in the world. He was a prospect, like signing a 20 year old (Oscar) you hope that with time and patients they will fulfil their potential, no only difference is managers don’t get time and patients at Chelsea and AVB went. In came fans favourite and former player RDM, but without sounding insulting to WBA his time there and MK Dons can hardly suggest he was in the top echelons of the management pyramid. Once the axe fell on his head it was already clear Chelsea had lined up Rafa Benitez who, since leaving Liverpool had only managed Inter Milan (post Mourinho) and those 6 months became a nightmare. At the time of his appointment Chelsea fans dreamed that it was a stop gap till they got the chosen one Pep Guardiola. He quickly distanced himself from the job and signed for Bayern, since then there has been an awkward feeling within the fan base of who next? Who is good enough for the job and is willing to risk their reputation (and the sack) by taking over at Chelsea.
Chelsea need a manger who is given time, that’s obvious, to implement changes to the way the club is run. The manager needs to be given complete control from top to bottom, there are obvious young talented players coming through the ranks at Chelsea (most out on loan this season) but for them to be given a fair crack at the first team is to have a manager who believes their job is secure. Without this security no manager can take the risk of playing these talented young players as they fear that a few bad results will quickly see them moved on, which has seen good talented players leave Chelsea in the past (Matic to Benfica as an example). There are a number of players in the twilight of their career but change can’t be sudden it needs to be gradual and again the only way to do this is to give a manager time and backing. These are all things very few managers have been gifted at Chelsea but now sees a watershed moment in the clubs history now is the time for Abramovich and his leading men to make the correct choice and give them time!
So who is in the running for the job then?
Jose Mourinho, the fans number one choice without a shadow of doubt, nothing would boost Abramovich’s popularity more than bringing back the ‘Special One’. Now more than ever the timing seems right, Chelsea need a boost and it seems clear that Mourinho will be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season. There is clearly unfinished business at Chelsea as he never managed to win the Champion League there.
Pros: There can be not denying that what you get with Mourinho is a proven winner on the world stage, he has one leagues at every club he has managed and won the Champions League with 2 different clubs (could be 3 by June) and he would bring hope and knowledge to a youthful squad. The second and most obvious positive is he had such a successful time at Chelsea and is a hero in the eyes of the fans, this could be the boost that the club needs.
Cons: Can it work a second time round or will it be a case of you should never go back? Mourinho doesn’t traditionally play the sort of football that it seems Abramovich is so desperate to see and of course it would need the owner to eat a lot of humble pie to invite the man he sacked back and give him complete control of the club. From Mourinho’s perspective he would be joining the club in a very different state to the previous time he took over expectations are a lot higher, mainly because of his success, and the club isn’t at the stage where they spend hundreds of millions each summer and he would have to believe the current squad is good enough to win him titles.
Manuel Pellegrini is the current Malaga manager and is having to battle with a crippling financial crisis. His team have begun to struggle in La Liga recently but their performance, in getting to the Champions League quarter finals and just minutes away from the semis, was very admirable. He may feel therefore that he has taken the club as far as he can and with more cut backs on the horizon may see this performance as good for his reputation and look to move on in the summer.
Pros: What makes him a candidate is the way in which he tries to get his teams to play football, it is the style in which Abramovich strives for Chelsea to play, fluent passing with high pressing. This style would suit the squad that has been assembled in recent years with the three attacking midfielders suiting a more patient, passing build up. Let us not forget either that he built his reputation in Europe with a very successful period at Villarreal which lead to him getting the opportunity to manager Real Madrid. He has vast experience and could attracted new exciting players.
Cons: He has no experience of Premier League football and although this does not always matter there may be a period of settling in and getting accustomed to the way football is played in this country. The style of football that seems to be the dream for every top European club is, when it works, beautiful to watch but can it really work in the EPL on a cold Wednesday night away to Stoke?
I have chosen to look at the two candidates that the media seem to portray as the likely managers, what worries me is beyond these two where next? Kloop (Dortmund) seems set on staying and challenging Pep, David Moyes has been muted as a possible but would he be able to make the step up or is he a big enough name to satisfy Abramovich. After this the ideas run a little dry, where could they turn? Untested fans favourites like Zola or Poyet whatever the answer the Chelsea fans will watch with a keen interest and probably celebrate seeing the back of Benitez (hopefully).
