Thank God I am not a Chelsea fan. While this is not the best sentence to start with, I have no option than to start with it.
Chelsea have been linked with many managers this summer. Today, it's Andre Villas-Boas, then Luciano Spalletti, then Guus Hiddink, and even Mark Hughes (unbelievable!). Yet this is never a situation Chelsea shouldn't have found themselves.
I do not understand how a man who won a double in his first season should be jobless at the end of the next, while a man yet to win even a minor trophy consolidates on his. Carlo Ancelotti, in two seasons, has done best than Arsene Wenger has in six. Yet Arsenal trust Arsene. No wonder, no matter what they have won lately, Chelsea remains a small club.
A club yet to get a tradition, yet to establish a clear-cut philosophy, cannot be considered a big club. Arsenal, for all they haven't won, have an understanding that Wenger fulfils their ambition. Over at Manchester, Sir Alex Ferguson and United wouldn't have been so successful if they were Chelsea. In his first period as United manager, Ferguson never won a thing in four seasons, but he remained in his job because United knew what they wanted. I just wonder what would have been of United, had Fergie left. This should be a lesson for Chelsea.
Until they identify what they want and how they want it, Chelsea would remain a 'small' club, traditionally.
Anyone who becomes Chelsea coach next season would have to bear in mind he would be sacked at a particular period. That, on its own, favours Manchester United and I am comfortable with that.