Roberto Di Matteo is probably one of the most unlucky managers in football history. He took Chelsea to Champions League glory when really they should have been knocked out in the last 16 by Napoli. He even beat Barcelona on the way, becoming the first team to do that in the Champions League for over three years. But he was then sacked less than six months later even though he was within four points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
His replacement Rafael Benitez has possibly become one of the most hated football managers in the shortest time possible. Benitez was booed from the start in his first game in charge and Chelsea fans even held ‘Benitez Out’ signs aloft in what was by far the worst reception I have seen a newly appointed manager receive.
Benitez didn’t help himself, he has been quoted many times in the past belittling Chelsea in the press and he twice knocked Chelsea out of Champions League semi-finals as manager of Liverpool but come-on give the guy a chance. He didn’t sack Di Matteo but the anger from the Chelsea fans has all been taken out on him.
The Chelsea fans also seemed to have finally turned on Fernando Torres whose scoring form since signing for the Blues has been atrocious but with Torres as the only recognisable striker in the team it appears that he will lead the Chelsea front line until at least January. A decent signing in January may get the Chelsea fans on Benitez’s side but will Roman Abramovich give the Spaniard any money to spend as he is only an interim manager.
The main target for Abramovich seems to be Atletico Madrid’s Falcao after the Columbian netted a hat-trick against Chelsea in the European Super Cup back in September. But is Falcao really the right man to lead the Chelsea front line and is he strong enough to adapt to the English game? Both questions are tough to answer and may only be answered if the Blues do in fact sign the Columbian in January.
The ideal target to play as the lone striker for Chelsea would be someone who could emulate Didier Drogba a strong powerful forward as the Blues have three brilliantly creative midfielders playing in behind Torres at the moment.
If Benitez could rejuvenate Torres this may also get the Chelsea fans on his side but he has a big uphill struggle as the Spanish striker has rarely looked like his former self and has looked out of sorts in both games since Benitez took charge. Maybe a miraculous recovery to win the Champions League could win them over, but that did not help Di Matteo keep his job as Ambramovich ruthlessly axed him earlier in the month.