Rafa Benitez just another stop-gap on the Chelsea managerial merry-go-round?
Chelsea go into one of their highest profile matches of the season on Sunday, as they take on league leaders and reigning English champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. With Chelsea’s form taking a harsh dip following a strong start to the season, disaster in Turin on Tuesday night against Juventus in the Champions League, saw owner Roman Abramovich wield the axe once more.
Roberto Di Matteo became the eighth manager to get the shove from the Chelsea hot-seat, since Russian billionaire Abramovich took ownership of the club back in 2003. Abramovich is not a patient man and Di Matteo found out that past successes count for nothing.
Despite rescuing Chelsea’s season last term, winning the FA Cup and getting their hands on the much coveted Champions League title for the first time, a slump of four Premier League matches without a win this season, put the italian on rocky ground. With the Blues getting thumped 3-0 by Juventus, it leaves them in the position of likely becoming the first ever defending European Champions to be knocked out in the group stage in their very next season. But the results are not the only thing which got Roberto Di Matteo the sack, it was a lack of style and swagger. Ambarocmich wants not only titles, but style as well.
With the Di Matteo departure, Chelsea turned immediately to former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard has never really been a man associated with style, but he is considered to be one of the most meticulous, tactical-thinking managers in world football. Benitez made his name at Liverpool, winning the Champions League, but was also at the helm when the house of cards fell and tumbled very quickly. Poor transfer decisions weakened the Liverpool squad substantially. After a stint in Italy with Inter, Benitez was sacked from the Milanese club and has been out of work since.
Benitez was linked with Chelsea back in the summer, but the club decided to hand a two year contract to Di Matteo on the back of his succes. The Blues have been more cautious this time around, deciding only to provisionally take Benitez on until the end of the season, with an eye to keeping him on longer. People will criticize Chelsea for their high managerial turnover, yet it has still been something which has worked for them. It has brought them titles and success if not any stability with the rapid fire managerial shoot out at the Bridge.
The appointment of the Spaniard has not been one which has met with whole-hearted support from Chelsea fans. Benitez had his run-ins with the London club while in charge at Liverpool, dismissing the values of Chelsea. But Benitez is the next man to try his hand at Stamford Bridge and immediately said that he wasn’t afraid of Abramovich, not after dealing with Liverpool. But it is not just the board he has to appease, he has to win over the support of Chelsea fans who really don’t want him there.
A win against Manchester City on the weekend, would go along way for Benitez in building bridges and the fact that Chelsea may be bowing out of the high pressured Champions League may help him put together a Premier League title challenge. Along with the challenge of winning support of Chelsea fans, Benitez also has the charge of getting the best out of fallen striker Fernando Torres. Torres was in his prime during his days at Liverpool under Benitez, full of confidence, fit and eager. Chelsea have yet to see that from their £50 million man.
Chelsea have the pieces in place for Benitez to make Torres flourish again. Will the re-union spark Torres into life? There have been rumors that Torres was influential in getting Benitez to Stamford Bridge and both will know that time isn’t on their side. Torres could find himself replaced in the January transfer window and Abramovich has made no secret of wanting former Barcelona Pep Guardiola at the club. So it could all just be a stopgap until Guardiola comes out of his self imposed sabbatical.
