David Moyes has been announced as Manchester United's new manager, Manuel Pellegrini is odds-on favourite for the Man City job, and Jose Mourinho is reported to be ending his tenure at Real Madrid - or having it ended for him - and taking up the reins from Rafa Benitez at Chelsea. From fan-enemy to fan-favourite, the world will wait with baited breath to see how the 'Special One' does second time around at Stamford Bridge.
There are plenty of details to be ironed out. Real will want compensating, even though they dearly want rid of Mourinho. The Portuguese manager has alienated the media (typical), the opposition (understandable) and also the club's star players, like Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo (unforgivable). Where once the ex-Porto and Internazionale manager specialised in uniting his teams under his leadership, like a modern day Achilles, just like the epic Greek Mourinho's weak spot has been found, and his usual tactics of blind loyalty to the end have failed to work.
That Mourinho has lasted three years in the Spanish capital is an achievement of sorts, but that he won't be missed tells the true story. Overlooked for either of the Manchester jobs, and with Paris St Germain holding on tightly to Carlo Ancelotti, the only place Mourinho can realistically go is back to Chelsea. So how come he has the stronger hand in negotiations?
The answer is as simple this: as much as Mourinho can only go to Chelsea, Chelsea can only go for Mourinho. The Blues have run through the course of young coaching prodigies (Andre Villas-Boas), former player (Roberto di Matteo), World Cup winner (Felipe Scolari), Italian maestro (Ancelotti), and temporary World traveller (Guus Hiddink). Who else can they go for, and who would want a potentially career threatening or simply short term move? Apart from Sven-Goran Erikssen.
A Jurgen Klopp would want to start another dynasty, like he has at Dortmund, Manuel Pellegrini has already suffered the bite of a big club, while Antonio Conte, Michael Laudrap, and Frank de Boer do not need the hassle of the Chelsea system. Even Rafa Benitez thought twice before joining.
Jupp Heynckes could be a short term option, but why would he want to allow his potential treble winning legacy at Bayern Munich be tarnished at a club as unstable as Chelsea, while Roberto Martinez does not have the reputation that Roman Abramovich would desire, and Roberto Mancini is another club's cast off.
Mourinho is at least a favourite with the terraces and has proved himself once already with Chelsea. He ticks the most boxes by a long way and it will be fascinating to see what demands he issues to the Russian billionaire and what demands he accepts in return. Working with Technical Director Michael Emenalo? Allowing the club to control the transfer strategy to some extent? How much of his backroom staff Chelsea will buy from Madrid?
The only manager who is available and might be interested would be Rafa Benitez, a winning at home and abroad, but there is no way the fans would accept him, so where else can Chelsea turn but Mourinho?
How much control Mourinho has at Chelsea may depend on how much money Madrid ask for in compensation. Those negotiations will take a while to resolve, with both sides in equally weak positions - the buyer has very few other options, while the seller is desperate to get rid.
If Chelsea can get him cheaply, then they can get in the rest of his backroom staff. If he's expensive, then Chelsea can say to their new man that the Blues were his only option so shut up and put up.
Personally, I think there will be a mix of success and fireworks, maybe a league title, but then a big fall out, with Mourinho doing enough to raise public opinion so he can get the Portugal job. Chelsea will be sated for a while, but the fall out will see Abramovich veering violently away from the policy of satisfying the fans and turning to someone who will satisfy him, until the point where Chelsea aren't winning and we go through the seven circles of Chelsea hell again.
Whatever happens, the neutrals will be entertained.
My money is on 'fireworks'. If it starts badly then by November 5th there could be rockets and effigy burning.
ReplyDeleteWe live in hope. A very informed piece.
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