It was always an interesting development, wasn’t it? Originally it was a ‘who’s who’ of football glitterati linked to the job – Rijkaard, Klinsmann, Deschamps. All young, energetic and revered ex-pros whose successes with Barcelona, Germany and Monaco (and to a certain degree, Juventus too) respectively saw their names naturally linked to Mourinho’s vacated King’s chair. When the news came that the 52 year-old Israeli, Avram Grant, had been installed as Mourinho’s replacement, few believed it would ever be anything other than a short-term thing.
We have been led to believe that there exists a deep and meaningful relationship between Grant and Roman Abramovich but in reality, Grant is never going to get past first base. The courtship is fleeting and flirtatious but never passionate. The roles are clearly defined – Grant clings to the notion of long-term happiness while Abramovich eyes up his next bit on the side – Frank Arneson, Henk Ten Cate, even Grant himself have all been the third party at some stage – and all played their part in the collapse of the Mourinho/Abramovich ‘unhappy – ever – after’.
The bottom line is that Grant has never ‘been’ Chelsea. He has never ‘looked’ Chelsea, never ‘acted’ Chelsea, never ‘talked’ Chelsea. Whether they like it or not, there is a certain image that corresponds to Chelsea Football Club. It has developed and evolved since the ‘London wide-boy’ stereotype of the 1970s but under Mourinho, the club revelled in the vibe that he gave off. His was the self-adoration, the cute Manuel–isms, the air of self-confidence, the slicked-back swagger. Grant is the short, back and sides in the whole affair. He does not fit the requisite mould and so, he will not last. Friend or foe, Abramovich has proven in his spiky yet incredibly successful tenure at the Bridge that above all else, he’s a businessman and he’s not afraid to sharpen his scythe when required. Heads will roll at Stamford Bridge this summer and it won’t be pretty. As much as headlines will scream ‘Russian roulette’ as the season draws to a close, Abramovich only likes a gamble if the odds are in his favour. And at the moment, the unlikelihood of Chelsea winning the Premiership and Champions League, as well as the recent, highly embarrassing Cup defeats to Spurs and Barnsley will ensure that Avram Grant’s future at Chelsea makes for grim reading.
Grant’s biggest problem has been that he’s not Jose Mourinho and as much as he lacks charisma, charm and an inability to play the media (personality traits that the Portuguese had in abundance) he has struggled on the pitch too. After Mourinho had encountered fierce criticisms for his ‘win at all cost’ style of play, Grant’s Chelsea promised entertaining, free-spirited football. But we haven’t got that either. In fact, before their 6-1 routing of a hapless Derby side on Wednesday night, Chelsea had scored just 23 goals at Stamford Bridge (where they remain unbeaten, although have only won there on 6 occasions) this season. Florent Malouda, Chelsea’s big summer signing, has scored 1 Premier League goal since joining the club while, as the first team prepared for the Champions League clash with Olympiakos, record-signing Andriy Shevchenko spent last Monday night captaining the Chelsea reserves as they took on their Reading counterparts. Alongside him were Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro, neither included in the Champions League squad. Chelsea’s humiliation at losing the game 2-1 probably wasn’t as bad as that felt by the former European Footballer of the Year - togging out at Griffin Park in front of a few hundred men and their dogs.
The internal difficulties at Chelsea have been well-documented but, with Henk Ten Cate being told to tow the line in the aftermath of a well-publicised spat with John Terry, the secret player meetings and behind-the-scenes bust-ups the problems don’t appear to be going away. And, if Chelsea’s season ends trophy-less, it may not only be Avram Grant on the move. Shevchenko looks to be on his way back to Milan, Lampard only has one year remaining on his contract, Drogba remains as ambiguous as ever regarding his future at the club and, depending on who the next man is, inconsistent performers like Shaun Wright-Philips and Wayne Bridge could be on their way too.
It’s hard to think of anyone else who could patrol Stamford Bridge the way Jose Mourinho did. The closest one gets is Frank Rijkaard, though he has always failed to get the balance right between self-confidence and supreme arrogance. As much the club needs someone with the personality to match that of the club, it also needs someone with the capability of controlling the growing player-power and channelling their grievances, egos and above all else, their incredible ability in the right direction. For the sake of the club, let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later.
This was Fiona's third monthly success in a row - a new UCCFFC record! The picture above shows her accepting the September award at White Hart Lane before Spurs took on (and beat!) Bolton Wanderers.
