WHY SHOULD I ADMIRE CHELSEA?

YOU BLUE A LOT OF CASH - Roman Abramovich has spent more than £800million to enable Guus Hiddink (centre) and the Chelsea players to win another FA Cup

They are just another expensive timepiece on Roman Abramovich's wrist

06/06/2009

THE JURY seems to be divided on whether or not Carlo Ancelotti will be a success at Stamford Bridge.

Who cares? Give me a single reason why I should admire Chelsea Football Club.

I love John Terry's commitment. I marvel at Frank Lampard's consistent excellence. I shudder appreciatively at Michael Essien's power. Heck, this season, I've even applauded Florent Malouda's dynamism.

I commend the unstinting support of fans who date from the pre-Roman era and there are plenty of staff who remain unaffected by the drug of cash.

And yes, Guus Hiddink seemed a decent fella. Last weekend, with a fat cigar on the go and his arm draped around an unfeasibly rich sugar daddy, he celebrated Chelsea's Wembley success. And, in some quarters, was hailed as a managerial genius.

Fact. He inherited a fantastically talented, ultra-expensive squad who only didn't perform for Phil Scolari because they didn't like the cut of his gib. Some achievement.

And Liverpool supporters apart, was there a single neutral out there who wanted Chelsea to win the FA Cup Final? When they were robbed of victory against Barcelona, was there any sympathy from football-lovers Europe-wide? Barely a twinge.

Expensive

Admittedly, Hiddink - even amid the recriminations of that fateful night - conducted himself with dignity during his spell at Chelsea.

And that is why the players said a poignant goodbye to him ... marking his departure with a farewell gift. A hundred and twelve grand watch. Like the multi-millionaire Dutchman needs one.

But it was somehow appropriate. Because with the hiring and firing of Scolari, the hiring and hiring of Hiddink and Ancelotti, that is what Chelsea have become. An expensive timepiece on the wrist of Roman Abramovich.

CARLO ANCELOTTI - pressure

By the end of the 2007-08 season, Abramovich had poured nearly £800million into Chelsea. Their wage bill - at £172million - was over £50million more than anyone else's. The figures are obscene. And to what end?

Peter Kenyon will prattle on about long-term visions, about becoming self-sufficient but do we really think he is speaking on behalf of the silent Roman? No. Abramovich wants to buy the Champions League. In the same way he buys yachts.

If you needed reminding, Ancelotti obliged. Mindful of the £5million a year about to be deposited into his bank account, he said what he thought were the right things on his appointment.

The over-riding priority is to win the Champions League. His over-riding priority should be to create a club which behaves and plays with the right values. Which realises that identity comes through nurturing your own talent. Which understands that supporters like a sense of loyalty between executives, managers and players.

The obvious retort from Stamford Bridge will be that dislike and disrespect go hand-in-hand envy. Wrong.

Manchester United are envied but respected for keeping faith in a manager who has now given them two decades of success.

Liverpool are envied but liked because they reach out to the community in a way that, in accordance with Barcelona's motto, makes them more than a club.

Respected

Arsenal are envied but liked because they take pride in developing the talent of tomorrow and in playing the beautiful way.

There is nothing wrong with spending large amounts of money. United, Liverpool, Arsenal, even those principled chaps at the Nou Camp do it.

And with an ageing squad, Ancelotti will need yet more financial backing from Abramovich if he is to silence the sound of time's marching boots.

But the Italian coach should also be talking to Abramovich about trying to change people's perceptions. About developing a long-term ethos, about stability amongst staff, about behaviour on the pitch, about creating a club that is respected.

With his latest designer purchase in the managerial chair, Abramovich may well win the Champions League. But I have little doubt they would be among the least popular winners.

And that would be tragic for the likes of Lampard, Terry, Essien and the supporters who have followed them through thick and thin. Idealistic as it sounds, genuine respect is more valuable than any trophy.

This column is not in the habit of referring to history's greatest playwright. And I promise this is the first and last time.

But when Macbeth's ruthless ambition has made him master of all he surveys, he reflects on his life: "That which should accompany old age, as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have, but, in their stead, curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not."

Translation. People pay lip-service to his elevated status but they can never love him because of the means he used to achieve it.

Shakespeare could have been talking about Chelsea.

Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn

Your comments

This article has 12 comments

Who ever asked for your opinioin about Chelsea? It's because of people like you the state of English football is what it is in today. Take away the money spenders , the foreign coaches and foreign players and you are left with nothing,zero. You only have to look at tomorrow's so called future stars of the under 21's and Stuart Pearce to know what I mean. Taken to the cleaners in 90 mins. You should be grateful that people like Abramovich have invested in English football. It gives you something to write about. Otherwise everybody would be saying, Andy who? You'd probably end up answering letters as an agony aunt. So shut up will you.

By Thomas Portelli.. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:52 PM.

Chelsea,is becoming more enterpresing in EPL,they makes people fill enthusiatic about soccer not mining the reaction they normally took or take in pitch,the actions in pitch leed to corrections in part of officiating officers.for instant chelsea vs bacca leed to good officiating with man united.CHELSEA remains the pride of ENGLAND.

By ADAKA EGBONA.. Posted June 13 2009 at 1:00 PM.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Man City win something...because they will. Then someone else will have a big invester and on it will go. Chelsea will eventually lose Roman, when who knows and they will be liked again. Success is always resented by the last big side because they dont win everything and in Arsenals case for quite a while (little laugh at this point) But hey ho I'm enjoying while the sun shines. (and taking money off Arsenal fans) Come on City supporters I bet you can't wait to be hated by the usual suspects.

By palmey.. Posted June 8 2009 at 11:21 AM.

who the hell cares if u like Chelsea or not. i dont like liverpool & ManU. its down to personal choice.

By deb.. Posted June 8 2009 at 9:03 AM.

chelsea fans can have all the smart **sed comments they like but the truth is everyone still hates you for what you are and what you stand for!

By tomdoyle.. Posted June 8 2009 at 12:21 AM.

A very good article. Chelsea are just not popular. Nobody likes them and they're certainly not respected. Their behaviour at CL semi final was diagraceful and just demonstrates their total lack of discipline when things don't go their way! They came to attention when Jose Mourhino took over and he and Chelsea were so arrogant together. Still are. No wonder the respected Guus Hiddinck didn't want to stay!

By Bob.. Posted June 7 2009 at 1:34 PM.

How can you liken the pre Abramovich Chelsea to Villa or Everton or Spurs I seem to remember in the last few years before Abramovich came Chelsea won Both cups and a top three finish with players like Gullit, Vialli, Di matteo,and lets not forget the great Zola (all world class players).So how about we get an unbiased view of Chelsea instead of from a mug like Andy Dunn who seems to spout his hate for chelsea like a jealous spitefull little schoolboy.

By John.. Posted June 7 2009 at 9:28 AM.

it's not that chelsea are the only club that pay large transfer fee's, it shows in their wage bill that they are just a small club with money. the fact that their wage bill is 50m more than the nearest club is because they have too pay bigger wages too get players too join them. where as the other sky4 clubs have tradition and history and always been near the top chelsea have not.... it would be interesting if the likes of Everton, Villa or Spurs were too get the backing chelsea have in the transfer market, because in football terms these clubs are bigger than chelsea... just not richer

By michael parkes.. Posted June 7 2009 at 8:51 AM.

well it all comes down to jealosy and unsurprisingly it comes from a bitter and twisted scouser who's team are going under chelsea nearly did but did'nt and all those hacks voted the writers player of the year for some body up on an affary charge .....

By stu.. Posted June 7 2009 at 7:52 AM.

Spot on article! All genuine football fans will treat Chelski as the joke they currently are. Rich mans plaything no more than that. Feel sorry for all genuine Chelsea fans rather than the wagon jumpers of late - sorry peeps it will all end in tears for you.

By holloway.. Posted June 7 2009 at 7:41 AM.

Baldfatlimey, read the story it says all the clubs have bought big, what he's also trying to say chelski have no history like the other clubs!!!!

By steve.. Posted June 7 2009 at 2:23 AM.

Its amazing that only Chelsea have ever bought anything. Man Utd must have got Rooney, Tevez, Ferdinand, Berbs all for nothing - and Liverpool, gosh, their team cost next to nothing (mind you they have not won the PL either) and Asenal - what about their spending - all on green shield stamps. Poor old Chelsea , buying the league like that. What fools they were.

By Baldfatlimey.. Posted June 6 2009 at 11:48 PM.

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