Filed under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football
It's not difficult to imagine Roman Abramovich's reaction to Chelsea's defeat at Old Trafford.The Russian is hardly known for his wild, animated gestures but it's safe to assume those around him will have sensed his displeasure, possibly as he muttered something about firing up the yacht and going on holiday three weeks early.
Instead of another glorious May that, according to the script, was meant to culminate with victory in the Champions League final at Wembley, the Stamford Bridge club is now running down the days until a difficult season finally draws to a close on at Everton on May 22.
The business has effectively been concluded on the field but for the club hierarchy, the most challenging work is about to begin. Decisions must be made about the future direction of the club and, most significantly, whether Carlo Ancelotti remains in place as manager.
Get it right, and Chelsea will again be Manchester United's closest challengers next season. Get it wrong, and the club could find itself going backwards, just as it did for three traumatic months this time around.
The Ancelotti decision is key and the Italian handled questions about his future in west London and the possibility of a move to AS Roma with familiar dignity after the game that left Manchester United as champions-in-waiting.
"Italy is my country and I can't say I will never go back there," he told a media briefing. "I love my country. But in the last two years I found a fantastic atmosphere here, with no violence in the stadiums, and I would like to stay here for this reason.
"I have another year on my contract and I would like to stay but that is a decision of the club. We will arrange a meeting after the end of the season. I am honest and I have to say that we didn't do the best.
"Last year was a fantastic season and this one has been a little bit different. But I think they have to consider all the season. I want to thank the players because for the last two months they were the best team in the Premier League."
Ancelotti deserves better than to be left hanging in this way, not least because of his siccess winning the double last season. This year's problems have largely not been of his own making and the way he guided the team back into contention is worthy of credit.
He was let down by his players in the first half against United, particularly David Luiz whose inexperience finally told after a number of close scrapes. The Brazilian is an outstanding player, but he was caught out and Ancelotti acted decisively in withdrawing him at half time.
He was similarly decisive when it came to John Obi Mikel, a player who would surely not have made anywhere near as many appearances this season if the Blues' squad had more depth.
Yet the signs are there may not be many more decisions for the manager to make before he is ousted at the end of the month as Abramovich again seeks a quick fix despite experience that shows that for every Guus Hiddink there is a Luiz Felipe Scolari.
New players are needed to strengthen a thin squad and several under-achievers are likely to be moved on while the Fernando Torres-Didier Drogba conundrum must be solved. The basis is there for success but significant tweaking is required. In short, a team must be built during an inevitable period of transition.
Is Ancelotti the right man for the job? The evidence of last season and the start and end of this season supports his claims, the mid-season dip weighs against him. You can also question why his side under-performed in their biggest game of the season but overall he has done enough to keep his job.
Sir Alex Ferguson has shown many times how failure can be the launchpad for future success. And those who doubt Ancelotti is capable of the same should recall how he steered AC Milan to Champions League revenge over Liverpool just two years after the crushing experience in Istanbul in 2005.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/09/premier-league-chelsea-roman-abramovich-carlo-ancelotti-future/
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