Mourinho has stronger hand in Chelsea game

The teams finishing first, second and third in the Premier League will have new managers in place for the start of next season. Well, 'new' is quite right.

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.

Benitez the greatest Squad manager?

There is a reluctance in football to give Rafa Benitez any undue credit. Alex Ferguson mocked the Spaniard for talking about his CV so much, but a quick gander shows that the former Valencia and Liverpool manager has an awful lot to gloat about – 2 La Ligas, 1 Champions League, 1 Uefa Cup, 1 FA Cup, 1 Club World Cup – and could add the Europa League to his collection.

The feeling prevails that Benitez is a grinder, someone with a preference for effective efficiency rather than electrifying entertainment. So the old joke goes: why does Bentiez play two holding midfielders? Because he hasn’t got three.

There is some truth that Benitez prefers containment over openness, but his record shows he is a very good manager. Look where Valencia and Liverpool are now for starters. At Chelsea he was never going to be a fan’s favourite. From day one the fans were waiting for the day their old adversary left, and even a top 4 finish and a European trophy will do little to endear him to the masses at Stamford Bridge.

A closer look reveals Bentiez is a manager of no little skill. His tactics might be dour, but the way he has led the Blues through Champions League and Europa League campaigns, culminating with the final in Amsterdam, to the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup, and into pole position to finish ahead of Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for the remaining CL places is something to be admired. Chelsea have played 65 games this season, with four left, and yet they look the freshest out of the London trio.

Juan Mata has played 60 times this season. John Terry, blighted by injury and subject to Benitez’s rotation policy, has still played 26 games. Frank Lampard, perhaps no longer of the parish next season, has made 47 appearances. For the players to put in such effort for so long is commendable, but for their manager to rotate the team so successfully, especially with only two misfiring strikers, is simply astounding.

With only Demba Ba joining in the January transfer window, and Daniel Sturridge leaving for Liverpool, Benitez was not even afforded more resources, let alone players he personally wanted. The interim appointment was undermined at every step but still Chelsea are competing and, more importantly, winning.

There are numerous examples of managers who have failed to rotate successfully, and even more who have fallen foul of their players because of the team selections. Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham team notoriously hit the buffers in the latter third of last season, while Barcelona’s fatigue was exposed by a ruthless Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Real Madrid have plenty of disgruntled stars and have fallen short in European and in La Liga, while Roberto Mancini appears to upset a different Manchester City player each week.

Benitez has not. The Spaniard has even managed the egos of Chelsea stalwarts Terry and Lampard, and while those two and others may simply be biding their time until a new man is at the helm, lesser man have felt the wrath of the dressing room leaders.

He may not be the man you want in charge of your club, but there is no doubt that Rafa Benitez is an accomplished and successful manager. He will toe the party line when it keeps the fans onside, or at least off his back. While other managers struggle to compete on more than one front, Benitez rotates his way to success, and it is a shame that his management skills are not recognised properly.

Romelu Lukaku is Chelsea’s future

Belgian youngster has shown enough on loan spell to get Stamford Bridge rol

The loaning of players between Premiership teams is a source of much contention, but there is no doubt that Romelu Lukaku’s loan spell at West Bromwich Albion has helped him, Chelsea and West Brom. There was talk of spending another season at the Hawthorns but Lukaku has shown he is ready to play for Chelsea in the Premiership right now.

In hindsight, perhaps the management at Stamford Bridge should have recalled their £20million signing in January, given the continuing problems Fernando Torres is suffering upfront and Demba Ba’s facial injury. However, sporadic game time would have hindered Lukaku more than it would have helped Chelsea, and the Belgian has established a reputation in England that will drive him up the pecking order for the Blues and also offer him all important time in the eyes of the fans and the media to make an impression in a Chelsea shirt.

So, assuming Lukaku continues to impress for Steve Clarke’s side, what should be the next step for Romelu and Chelsea? The answer is linked to the aforementioned Torres who has struggled even under the guiding hand of his old Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Torres looks a shadow of the player who terrorised Premier League defences while at Anfield, and it is now time for Abramovich to finally cut his losses. Whoever takes over from the interim manager in the summer (for the chances of Benitez staying in charge beyond the summer look remote at best) will no doubt tow the party line that Torres is a quality player and that a new manager can get the best out of him, but in reality it would be best for all parties if Torres was allowed to leave the Stamford Bridge spotlight.

That leaves Ba and Lukaku as Chelsea’s only true striking options. Plenty of their ‘number 10s’ can play in a forward role, like Juan Mata, Eden Hazard or Oscar, but none of them can lead the line like Ba or Lukaku. An additional striker may be needed to give the option of playing two upfront, but any new man should look to complement Lukaku, not supersede him.

Lukaku’s brace against Sunderland took him to twelve goals in 25 appearances, an impressive return, and his speed, strength and work rate, allied to a good touch and sharp striking instinct make him a threat in the Premiership. He has played over 150 games in his career and will not turn 20 until May. He may be young but he does not look it, and most importantly he does not play like it.

Chelsea have some big decisions to make in the summer, not least what to do with the £50million Torres. Getting rid of the Spaniard would be hugely embarrassing but Lukaku’s form and goals this season for WBA would soften the blow. Replacing a world cup winner with a teenager may at first look a risk, but it could be the safest bet Chelsea can make.

Time for Ancelotti's Stamp

Three years have passed since the Special One left Stamford Bridge, yet the team remains true to his values, his tactics and his formation. The key men remain the same - Cech, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard and Drogba - and despite the best efforts of Carlo Ancelotti the style is still the same - strong and powerful, but not always pleasing on the eye.

The Italian has achieved something Mourinho did not, namely a domestic double, and he still has a chance to deliver the Champions League, something Chelsea have never won. But the feeling remains that Mourinho created the Chelsea we have seen today, and the likes of Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink and now Ancelotti are merely reaping the benefits. Key personnel remain the same, and those that have left have been replaced with similarly styled players.

Moruniho's teams were accused of defensive, direct football. Effective without doubt, but for the money splashed about more was expected. Those that have succeeded him have not had a blank cheque book, and arguably Ancelotti is having it harder than most. The likes of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole have left the club, their wages deemed excessive for what they brought to the team.

Looking at Ancelotti's previous teams, should we be expecting an attractive, attacking style of play? A brief glimpse of his managerial history shows that the Italian likes to adopt a defensive style of play in general, but tends to mould a system to suit his players. Is it any surprise, therefore, that he should choose to continue with a kind of football that has worked so well for Chelsea in the recent decade?

One legacy the man from Reggiolo is trying to create is behind the scenes at the club's training ground in Cobham. The idea is to replicate the famous Milanello training facility and Ancelotti has brought over Bruno di Michelis to help build a world class complex.

The Chelsea squad still has a few areas that need improvement. The return of Michael Essien will bring drive and determination, but the team lacks width and sheering pace on the wings as the full backs are asked to cover both fofensive and defensive duties. Anelka and Drogba still struggle to shine as a partnership, while Lampard struggled in the first half of last season without the physical presence of the Ivorian upfront.

The signing of Fernando Torres would certainly make a statement, but I worry how well he and Drogba would do in a partnership. Both like to lead the line and be the focal point of attacks - would they be able to link up together and score the goals? And how well would Lampard work in a deeper role?

Chelsea could do with genuine wingers to offer a different option (Malouda and Kalou are not by any definition wingers) and also a creative midfielder to get on the ball and create chances. It's all very well smashing Wigan for eight, but as Inter Milan showed they can be stifled as an attacking force. If Chelsea want to win that Champions League, and Ancelotti wants to be the man to do it, he needs to make a couple of changes and then maybe we can say this is Ancelotti's Chelsea.

Fergie Still Has Plenty of Rebuilidng To Do

Such are the exalted pressures placed on managers these days, second place is simply the first of the losers. Last season's runners-up, Manchester United, have enjoyed finishing first more often than not, and Sir Alex Ferguson will not except finishing second once again. However, if his team are to succeed at home and abroad, they still have lots of rebuilding to do.

Ultimately, United did not finish that far off top spot, but it could be argued that they faced the poorest Chelsea side in the last few years. Ignore the OAP-quips, Chelsea had a good team but they lacked pace and creativity on the flanks, Lampard had a poor start to the season, Anelka a poor finish to the season. Obi Mikel has yet to control midfield like Makelele, Essien was out injured for most of the season and Cech still looked suspect. Both Chelsea and United were undone at home in the Champions League, and United missed plenty of opportunities to take an unassailable lead in the title race.

Ferguson has made more moves in the summer transfer window than anyone so far, snapping up Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling. Hernandez certainly looked lively for Mexico, bagging a good couple of goals. How quickly he can settle in to the Premiership we will have to wait to find out, but he does seem to have talent.

Smalling, for a fee of over £10 million pounds, had impressed in a game for Fulham against local rivals Chelsea, but since then has looked a little shaky for a player heading to a club of United's stature. Perhaps Ferguson hopes to mould him into a world class defender, rather than drop him straight in the deep end, but with fitness concerns over Rio Ferdinand and transfer rumours surrounding Vidic, Smalling may get more games than either he or this manager expected.

By and large, United's defence was pretty solid. Edwin van der Sar continues to perform to a high standard, although Fergie's dalliance with Ben Foster as a future number 1 did not work, unsurprisingly in my opinion. So maybe there is scope for a new, top class number 1. Someone like Manuel Neuer, a better keeper than the World Cup has suggested, could be ideal.

Upfront, Wayne Rooney was on fire, but its always easier for a striker to score when he is the lone recipient of the team's chances. When partnered with Berbatov or Owen, who both failed to produce to the high standards demanded at Old Trafford, the Englishman looked less assured. Berbatov has failed to be the target man for Rooney to play off of, and Owen has inevitably found injuries blocking his path. Mama Biram Diouf looks to be the next Manucho, but Hernandez and Marcheda could help beef up the attacking options.

Its in midfield where the greatest problems lie. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs edge nearer retirement, and in Scholes' case especially there have been times when the old maestros have simply looked out of the loop. This would be fine if others had stepped up to the plate, but apart from Darren Fletcher who continues to impress, there is a real lack of quality.

Ji-Sung Park could find himself propelled into a regular slot. Trusted by Fergie to play in the big games, perhaps its time to start becoming a first eleven regular, if only because his midfield rivals have played poorly, at best.

Michael Carrick flatters to deceive for club and country. His passing ability is pleasing on the eye, but is not incisive enough. He lacks bite in the tackle, can be overrun and outplayed by quality opponents, and goes missing far too much. Compared to Scholes in his prime, Carrick looks like a lost choirboy. Anderson looks at best average, at worst a headless chicken. For someone costing near £20 million, he has failed to provide value for money on any level. I do feel, however, that Ferguson has deployed the Brazilian too deep, and should allow the bustling midfielder to operate further up the pitch. The need for a playmaker has probably clouded Ferguson's mind.

Darren Gibson provides squad depth, but not excellence against premier opposition. Will he dictate midfield against Inter or Real or Barca? The forgotten man, Owen Hargreaves, has the ability and United have definitely missed him. The 2009 Champions League final was a prime example, but his rehabilitation into a consistent first team player is still a long way off. 2 minutes at the end of the season does not count, and I will not believe he is ready until he can play a full month's worth of action.

Obviously, the Glazers ave restricted the transfer budget to some extent, but Ferguson still has a decent kitty to spend. The problem is, players like Smalling and Hernandez may become top class players and first team regulars in the future, but United need a world beater in midfield now. The supply of such players is short, and prices will be extremely high, but it's a price worth paying if United want to go the extra step and win the Premiership and Champions League again.