A Surprisingly Unsurprising Chelsea Soap Opera

It has not been easy to avoid hearing and reading about Chelsea ever since Roman Abramovich’s money and Jose Mourinho’s ego joined forces to help build one of the world’s best teams. These polarizing elements have inspired a lot of emotions — jealousy, hate, love, affection — it is hard to be indifferent. With all the outrageous quotes and the scuttlebutt it is also easy to forget just how good Chelsea have been.

All of this makes the current drama taking place behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge and up front in the tabloids both predictable and surprising. It is predictable that men who are used to getting their way and who have strong personalities would eventually clash. It is surprising that a club that is still alive for a gazillion trophies this season could be experiencing anything near a “crisis”.

It is equally surprising that the toxic element in the equation has turned out to be Andriy Shevchenko. When Chelsea signed the striker this summer it was largely assumed that not only would he help the club continue along its merry way to dominance in England, but that he would be the missing piece in the Champions League puzzle. It was also probably assumed that a player who was beloved in Italy and did not have a history of being a troublemaker would blend in just fine in London.

This hasn’t been the case and as Sheva has struggled on the pitch and has Chelsea have “struggled” into second place in the Premiership the Ukrainian’s relationship with his Russian owner is now being pointed to as one the reasons Jose Mourinho might pack his obnoxious comments and amazing managing skills and head elsewhere after the season.

Today we hear from some of the key actors in this soap opera who are all trying their best to downplay the situation while still very much keeping it alive.

First up, Shevchenko:

“I am being made a scapegoat for things that have nothing to do with me,” he said. “It’s bullshit. There are things written about my relationship with Abramovich which have been exaggerated. My relationship with him is the same as every other player, it is entirely professional. I see Abramovich in the dressing-room sometimes or occasionally at training. We might have a quick word with each other but that is natural as we both speak Russian. Maybe I shouldn’t speak Russian. Maybe that gives people the wrong idea.”

Yes, never trust people speaking Russian. Lesson learned. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes but like any great athlete Sheva wants to play. Like any great manager, Mourinho wants to win and he knows he can best win with his best players. Sheva has not been one of those players. Hence the tension.

Now it is Mourinho’s turn:

“If the club supports me, I don’t see any reason not to be here,” Mourinho told reporters at a launch of Chelsea’s corporate responsibility report at the House of Commons in Westminster. “Support is not about money, support is not about new players, you can feel support and have no players.”

A classic Mouinhoism that makes no sense yet still gets the point across. When Chelsea don’t pony up to buy the World Cup XI team he’ll have an excuse to leave while being able to portray himself he victim. Mourinho knows what he is doing. The man was a politician in previous incarnation.

Finally there is the club’s Chief Executive Peter Kenyon:

“I know lots of clubs that would like to be six points off in the Premiership and we’re probably the only club in contention for all four trophies.

“We’re calm and we are clear and the objectives of everybody, the board and Jose, is to concentrate on following up from what has been two fantastic seasons.

“The owner and the board are fully supportive of Jose and let me tell you, Jose is fully intending to see the job out.

“I signed him to Chelsea with a vision of where we wanted to take it and he wanted to be part of it. And we’re two years into it, his contract runs until 2010 and as I said before, he’s got the full support of the board.

“And quite bluntly, where is there better to go?”

Well, Mourinho could go any number of places and likely have success but Kenyon is the voice of reason here even if he is denying a rift that clearly has developed. Mourinho has been great for Chelsea. Chelsea have been great for Mourinho. Winning can heal all wounds. Can’t it? Train wreck waiting to happen or merely a bump in the road, you can bet this story won’t fade away anytime soon.

Some Related Stories:

Category: English Premier League