The comparisons were inevitable, let’s be honest. They were being made before he even joined Chelsea. It was as likely to happen as the comparisons between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie and Steve Kean and a potato in a suit. The three above comparisons have varying plausibility and some are the work of lazy journalism. When it comes to the Special One and the Special Two, I am still undecided on whether it is the result of the former or the latter.
Characteristics akin to both men led to the younger of the two acquiring the praise/pressure of the “Special One” tag; both are Portuguese, both put tremendous legwork in before they landed a managerial role of their own and both owe much of their success to the late Sir Bobby Robson. Robson picked up Mourinho when he was managing Lisbon and in need of a translator and then the duo picked up AVB at their next club, Porto.
When Jose Mourinho was manager of Porto, he hired AVB as an assistant coach and as Mourinho conquered Portugal, the Champions League, England, Italy and the Champions League once more, AVB followed from club to club, in the same familiar role. His breakthrough, or his first of many, came at a young age and has epitomised his style; he challenges convention. He challenged Robson on his team selections aged just 16 and now he’s challenging a convention that Mourinho instilled into Chelsea; an onus on defence.
Mourinho’s record at Chelsea stands for itself and its only blip on an almost picture perfect canvas, was his inability to bring the Champions League to Stamford Bridge. To Abramovich, the Champions League is much like the son Henry VIII always wanted, chopped and changed, literally, to get and then, when he eventually got within touching distance, lost in a sad twist of fate. Much like Henry’s assorted, and differing spellings of, Catherine and Anne failing to produce a son only Jane Seymour could, Abramovich is yet to marry a man to the club capable of winning the Champions League.
It isn’t without trying either; since The Special One’s departure, that came without a P-45, may I add, and with an unbeaten home record intact since he took over, Abramovich hired and subsequently fired Grant, Scolari, and Ancelotti. Hiddink featured at the helm for 4 months between Scolari and Ancelotti, but his role was only ever temporary and despite calls to stay, he returned to focus solely on managing Russia. Unsurprisingly, he’s the only manager to be linked with a move back to the London club.
When Abramovich broke all records previous in paying £13m for Andre Villas-Boas to rejoin Chelsea, this time as manager, from his post at Porto, he thought he had finally found his Jane. If ever there was a perfect C.V, AVB had it and Abramovich lapped it up.
A win ratio of 84%, a Portuguese treble of the league, the cup and the Europa League and ringing endorsements from some of the world’s best including his comparison and compatriot, was as many referees you needed on your portfolio.
I think whoever is in charge of Chelsea right now would be struggling. The golden generation is coming to an end as Terry, Lampard and Drogba reach the final stages of their career. At the same time players like Cole, Anelka and Malouda are getting on a bit. Carvalho, Ballack, J. Cole and others have already moved on.
The manager needs to build a new team really and obviously that can take time. The signings of Torres, Luiz, Ramires etc were obviously made with this intention, but most by Ancelotti not AVB. In truth AVB needs probably two seasons to build his team but whether Abramovich will be that patient I am not sure.