Turlough Heffernan
Contributing Writer
262 days. That’s how long Roberto Di Matteo lasted as the manager of Chelsea
Football Club. His firing comes on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Juventus that leaves
the club in the unenviable position of potentially being the first ever holders of
the Champions League Trophy to be sent packing while still in the group stages.
According to a club statement “The team’s recent performances and results have not
been good enough and the owner and the board felt that a change was necessary
now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important
part of the season.”
Make no mistake; this decision was made solely by Roman Abramovich, the Czar
of Chelsea who ruthlessly rules over club affairs. Eight managers have come and
gone since the Russian purchased the club less than ten years ago and although
Di Matteo was the general who fulfilled his leader’s ambition by conquering Europe,
there was always a sense that he was living on borrowed time.
He had been brought in as a caretaker manager in March and embarked on a
simply sensational run, winning over the notorious Chelsea dressing room before
leading them to victories in the finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League. This
season started brightly, with the flair and dynamism of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata
combining to wreak havoc with opposition defenses. However, two points from the
last four matches was enough to prompt the always trigger-happy owner to relieve Di
Matteo of his duties.
Speculation now turns to who will replace him. Even before Di Matteo was given a
two-year contract in June, speculation was rife that Pep Guardiola, the man behind
Barcelona’s domination of European football was Abramovich’s favourite for the
job. Guardiola is currently taking a year-long sabbatical in New York however and is
believed to have no intention of cutting it short. There are also doubts that he would
accept the offer, bearing in mind the managerial merry-go-round that Chelsea has
become.
For that reason, Rafa Benitez, the former Liverpool manager has thrown his hat into
the ring. Speaking to Sport360 he said “I am looking for a club that can challenge
for trophies and Chelsea is one of these clubs.” How long he would last is another
matter but it would surprise no one if he was offered the job just until the end of the
season, allowing Abramovich to use his powers of persuasion, and his deep pockets,
to convince Guardiola to come to Stamford Bridge.
