Chelsea’s search for a new manager has prompted wild speculation as to who will be Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement at Stamford Bridge. It is clear Roman Abramovich wants the fortunes at Stamford Bridge turned around quickly with immediate success at home and in Europe. Barcelona have been the most successful club in the Europe over the last decade, ergo, could an ex or current Barcelona manager be the resolution to Roman’s troubles?
Frank Rijkaard currently lingers in the realms of unemployment following his exit from Turkish club Galatasaray, resulting in him being linked to every job under the sun, and surely he will be on Abramovich’s radar having won major honours with Barcelona between 2003 and 2008.
Most tempting to Abramovich and the Chelsea board could be the way Rijkaard went around rebuilding an ageing team when he took over Barcelona, arguably a similar requirement now at Chelsea. Rijkaard blended the young players of the team he inherited; Victor Valdes, Carlos Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta with new signings Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Deco to form a team of world beaters, winning back to back La Ligas in 2005 and 2006 aswell as the Champions league in 2006. Abramovich’s quest for Champions league glory could logically see him turn to Rijkaard.
However, many stumbling blocks could lie in the way. Although undeniably Rijkaard did a fantastic job of turning a declining and ageing club into European kings within 3 years, this would probably be seen as slow development to Abramovich, who demands immediate success and deems a double winning season followed by a second place Premier league as inadequate.
Also, Abramovich and the Chelsea faithful won’t quickly forget the controversial meeting with Rijkaard’s Barcelona side in 2005 and the comments Rijkaard levelled at the club and then club manager Jose Mourinho. Rijkaard accused Mourinho and the club of ‘serious lies’ in reference to comments made about referee Anders Frisk and Rijkaard. Tempers definitely flared and although it was Chelsea who came out on top, the tension when the two teams meet still exists to this day and everyone associated with Chelsea may not be able to forgive Rijkaard for his perceived attitude towards the club, regardless of the style of play and benefits he could bring.
After winning every accolade possible, speculation is rife that Pep Guardiola will imminently be leaving Barcelona. Surely Abramovich would make a move for the best young manager in the game if he was to become available?
Guardiola evidently balances the ability to radiate authority within his squad with the ability to inspire jaw-dropping football, something which would appeal to Abramovich who has sanctioned (and probably strongly encouraged) the purchases of Fernando Torres and others who he hopes can replicate the Barcelona style of football at Chelsea, despite it questionably being an impossibility in the English game. Abramovich still demands attractive, creative football and would possibly be more inclined to try and tempt Guardiola than Rijkaard.
A recurring issue with Chelsea managers over the years, particularly Luiz Felipe Scolari and to an extent Mourinho, has been the ability to successfully man manage a team of international, egotistic superstars. It was reported that player power came to fruition during Scolari’s short reign and near the end of Mourinho’s time to overpower the managerial regime when they weren’t 100% happy; something which would probably not be the case with Guardiola who has proved he can handle the needs of stars such as Messi, David Villa and Iniesta whilst showing a relentlessness in move on players who don’t fit in to his ‘family’ like Ronaldinho.
The acquisition of Guardiola, unfortunately, looks very unlikely at Chelsea. Not only has he said as recently as the Champions league final that he wants another year at Barcelona but also his strong ties to Barcelona make it far fetched to conceive him shedding his loyalty and managing one of Barcelona’s fiercest European rivals. Whereas the Chelsea support would probably take more kindly to Guardiola than Rijkaard, Rijkaard would probably be more inclined and available to take the hot seat.
Although these Barcelona idols are undoubtedly coaches of world class pedigrees and, on paper, perfect candidates for Roman’s vacancy: why would either Guardiola or Rijkaard, both recognised and respected European coaches, risk becoming another casualty of Abramovich’s merciless firing policy?
By Sam Scott for This Is Futbol
Shaun the Sheep has a great record of solving performance problems. He also manages the farmer and dog very expertly. Perhaps he is could be our new manager.
I also like Shaun the Sheep, but Duck Man the Great and his side kick Fruitypie Slugman, are my choice.
Hiddink FTW
wat abt hiddink he perfect man 4 d job, when al our play lose form espectially malouda n alnelka even drogba, when he take d job every player’s took deir form back n we win fa cup by beatin everton 2 : 1 so he is gud 4 d job
You fail to mention that Rijkaard was sacked by Galatasaray for his disastrous spell as their Manager. Your view of this whole situation is wrong in my opinion. Over the next three seasons all clubs’ transfer spending will be averaged out to come up with a figure within budget of the new UEFA finacial fair play rules. Abramovich did not sack Ancelotti because Chelsea came second in the Premiership last season or even because we got dumped out of the CL by a very average United side. He was given his marching orders because Abramovich (most probably through his team of close advisors) recognised that he could not trust Ancelotti to rebuild an ageing squad over the next three seasons. Ancelotti had always had players bought for him by Berlisconi and Galletti at Milan and his strength was in building those players into a family unit. His personal tactical skills as a manager were sorely shown up to be inept this last season and his inability to bring young players through proved his undoing. How many minutes pitchtime did Borini, Kakuta, Van Aanholt, Josh McEachran, Bruma or Ryan Bertrand get ALL season? Answer, a hell of a lot less than they would have got at teams like United or Arsenal!
Pep Guardiola has openly stated that this will be his last season in charge at Barca and many people ask why? Why leave this fabulous team that he has built? The simple answer is that he wants a new challenge. I love Lionel Messi as a player and in my eyes the young Argentinian is better footballer than either Pele or Maradona who I have been fortunate enough to see in my footballing life time.
The answer to Guardiola’s decision lies in La liga as a league itself. Just look and study the stats of that league over the last few seasons. The gap between 2nd and third club is rediculous. It is how Messi and Ronaldo can score over 50 goals each in a single season. As a league (which will not go down well with Spanish football fans) La Liga is closer to the Premiership in Scotland than our own very competitive division. Rangers and Celtic cut up the spoils between them EVERY season just as Barca and Real do in Spain.
I believe Roman will be looking for an interim Manager and if a deal is done behind closed doors with Guardiola and his agent, we may even employ someone recommended by Pep himself to hold the hot seat for a season who will then go on to become Guardiola’s assistant Manager. It is also not beyond the realms of the imagination that Roman would like to bring in Guus Hiddink for one season as Manager and then elevate him toward the board room to become Director of Football making way for Guardiola in 2012/13? Whatever happens the press and general media will continue to knock Roman Abramovich, but I for one believe he will end up showing them up for the one dimensional sports writers without an original thought between them, that they are. Roman Abramovich is a very shrewd man and surrounds himself with the very best that money can buy as far as expert advisors are concerned. This group also includes a couple of super agents with world wide connections. Roman WILL build his empire in England and with Chelsea but the majority (other than true Chelsea fans) cannot see it yet. Just watch them all quickly change their tunes when Roman’s real legacy to Chelsea football club starts to become more apparent over the next few seasons! KTBFFH
I don’t think guardiola will be a good manager for chelsea as the stats prove not even one of his buys in his three years have shined not even the prolific ibrahimovic further each and every time Barca has rested their superstars they have not fared well which means the team relies heavily on messi,iniesta,xavi and co.
go 4 gus.focus abram