The Di Matteo conundrum

Should Chelsea take a chance on Roberto Di Matteo?

This is the question which has been plaguing the Chelsea board and the fans ever since the euphoria of the Champions League triumph has ebbed away.

I would like to state the ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments to this question.

For:

• He’s won the Holy GrailIt is no secret that for Roman Abramovich, Champions League was the ‘Holy Grail’. The one elusive trophy he so desired. So now that Roberto Di Matteo has finally won it for him doesn’t he deserve a chance to defend it. Coupled with the fact that he has also won us the FA Cup, he has got a CV to match most top class managers.
• The Players want himThe players have made no secret of their support for a manager they affectionately call ‘Robbie’. After the turbulent times under AVB when most of their careers at Chelsea seemed to be all but over. The ‘Old Guard’ finally found a manager who respects their ideology for the club and they thrived under him.
• He is a Chelsea manEven before stepping in to become the assistant manager Roberto had a stellar career with Chelsea. A career which includes him winning the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and scoring THAT GOAL against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Final. So he knows what the club is all about and he truly cares about it.
• The Fans love him“There’s only one Di Matteo!” The words rang around St.Andrews from the travelling Chelsea fans often and passionately in support of the caretaker manager. This has been a constant theme right up to the Champions League final. The fans have taken a liking to their legend who has returned to manage their club. The positive atmosphere at Stamford Bridge under Di Matteo has inspired the players to put that extra bit of effort in their performances.

• Fernando TorresDi Matteo has coaxed more goals out of the Spaniard in two months than Carlo Ancelotti or Villas-Boas did in half-seasons. The Chelsea legend is a tremendous man manager and motivator, and perhaps that could be his biggest strength, maybe even the deciding factor in the managerial announcement.

Against:

• The AVB effectDid Di Matteo use the frustration of the players during the Villas-Boas regime to his advantage? Of course he did. And this is not a bad thing. A shrewd tactician uses all available resources. But the downside of this is that he won’t be able to use the same trick twice if he is retained next season.

• Player PowerUnder AVB, the Chelsea ‘Old Guard’ were suddenly stripped of their authority. They did not quite get the special attention that they are were used to, they were now being treated as equals with several new-comers. It goes without saying that these players had a major part to play in the sacking of AVB. Although the subsequent Champions League and FA Cup triumphs and their major contributions vindicated their approach. A change is required at the club, these players no matter how good they are cannot go on forever. This ‘change’ might not be possible if a manager who is more of a friend to them is at the helm.
• Interim Managers don’t workChelsea have rather weirdly done well under Interim Managers. Even before RDM they had good seasons under other interim managers like Guus Hiddink and Avram Grant. Although Hiddink did not stay on despite public demand, Grant’s subsequent stints at Portsmouth and West Ham had fans thanking the fact that he did not stay. More recently, Kenny Dalglish’s situation mirrors that of Di Matteo. A club legend who has returned on a short term basis and turned around the club’s fortunes, strikingly similar right. Kenny eventually had a woeful second full season after he was appointed under public pressure, what followed is all too well known.

So there you go, we have enough reasons to support either arguments. None of which, though, is to say that Di Matteo shouldn’t be given the job; he just shouldn’t be hired at the snap of Abramovich’s fingers . He should be, however, given an interview, at which he should be asked to explain how he would rejuvenate an ageing squad. At the end of it all, one guess is as good as another for the Di Matteo situation. The fact that Roman’s supposed favorite choice Pep Guardiola has decided to go on a sabbatical might work in the favor of Di Matteo. But even if he doesn’t get the Chelsea job, rest assured that the Champions League winning manager will not be short of other offers.