Roman Abramovich's apparent meddling risks widespread implications at Chelsea.
Roman Abramovich's meddling risks widespread implications at Chelsea, according to Peter Fraser
"He wasn't the monster that the papers painted him to be. The first thing I noticed was his timidity," Carlo Ancelotti wrote in his autobiography of Roman Abramovich. But, if reports are correct, the Chelsea manager has drastically reconsidered an assessment of the man who pays his salary.
A weekend of speculation has plunged new darkness over a black November at Stamford Bridge and what seemed to be a club resembling an unrelenting juggernaut at the start of the season now appears a quivering wreck.
Stories that Ancelotti was set to resign have been described as 'total nonsense' and the man himself has denied that he offered to quit on Sunday night. But there is no smoke without fire. Is the former AC Milan boss frustrated with apparent meddling from Abramovich, who he once lauded in
Preferisco La Coppa? Has he simply had enough of life at Stamford Bridge? Either way, Chelsea have threatened a huge mistake.
Ancelotti is better suited to Chelsea than Jose Mourinho. He has brought success without any of the attention-seeking pantomime of his most-famous predecessor, he is a universally likeable character, he favours a more attacking brand of football and he has started to show a commitment to developing the youth ranks. The 51-year-old represents the best hope for Abramovich to fulfil his dream of winning the UEFA Champions League and the current breakdown therefore has significant ramifications.
Conjecture regarding the Italian's future escalated on Saturday after he confessed in the wake of defeat at Birmingham that he did not have total control of his team. However, the cracks have been appearing amid the shabby sacking of former assistant manager Ray Wilkins and three defeats in the last four league matches.
Man of morals
The theory when Ancelotti arrived at Chelsea was that he was a man who was happy to deal with a hands-on hierarchy after working under Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi. But it seems that line of thought is significantly wide of the mark.
Fallout from Wilkins' unsavoury exit has highlighted Ancelotti as a man of morals, a man concerned by his own image and standing in European football. Wrangles over compensation for his former assistant have left a bad taste in the mouth and have shown that the previously assumed 'timidity' of Abramovich is more of a crocodile smile. You do not become the 10th richest person in the world, according to the 2010 Forbes list, without an entirely ruthless and objective approach.
The treatment of Ancelotti is a repeat of that which led to the exit of Mourinho in 2007, when Avram Grant's arrival at Stamford Bridge was seen to undermine the egotistical Portuguese. The recent promotion of former chief scout Michael Emenalo to assistant coach is almost an echo of those events. Ancelotti's contract expires in 2012, but the debate over his future is set to continue despite his assurances that he does not plan to resign.
Why unsettle a man who secured a Premier League and FA Cup Double in his debut season in England? That Chelsea have brought this situation upon themselves is ludicrous.
As if not content with denying Ancelotti the assistance of Wilkins, the promotion of Emenalo, who was ironically an appointment during Grant's tenure and is a close associate to Abramovich, is another twist of the knife. The body language between Ancelotti and Emenalo in the dugout at Birmingham on Saturday made for excruciating viewing.
Winning formula
Having forced a breakdown with Mourinho, you would have thought that Abramovich, director Eugene Tenenbaum, who let it not be forgotten allegedly sacked former boss Claudio Ranieri by telephone, chief executive director Ron Gourlay, who gave Wilkins the bullet, and sporting director Frank Arnesen had learnt a lesson. But it appears they are incapable of leaving alone a winning formula. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
It is no coincidence that defeats to Liverpool, Sunderland and Birmingham have come at a time when Ancelotti, who has also been incredibly unfortunate with injuries, is feeling uncomfortable. Now what was set to be a low-key Champions League group meeting with MSK Zilina on Tuesday has earned gigantic importance, despite a place in the knockout stages having already been secured.
Losing Ancelotti would cause greater damage to Chelsea than the departure of Mourinho and, although Guus Hiddink was installed by bookmakers as a 2/1 favourite to return to the club, the choice of big-name replacements looks a little thin following years of managerial merry-go-round in West London. Who would want the job given the influence of Abramovich? Another change in the hot-seat would cause irrevocable damage to the atmosphere at the club and disgruntled fans.
The Russian needs to stop interfering in football matters and realise that Ancelotti is the perfect manager. If not, Chelsea risk losing a lot more than just the chance to win the Champions League.
