Winning Champions League should automatically mean that Chelsea are favourites to dethrone Manchester City and overcome Manchester United in Premier League title race, but is this true?
Roberto Di Matteo, signed as an interim Chelsea manager in March, made Roman Abramovich’s dream come true by lifting the Champions League trophy in Munich. The Russian oligarch left the Italian stay on a permanent basis, but the question remains as to whether Di Matteo is ready to face the challenge.
During those three and a half months as a caretaker, the 42-year-old Di Matteo managed to calm down the atmosphere around Stamford Bridge after Villas-Boas’s reign. The Italian played the role of a firefighter who had to bring the situation at Stamford Bridge under control. And he deserves 10/10 for his work. But now the manager needs to prove his qualities in one full season where games will come one after another and Di Matteo have to be much more flexible in his approach for each match. Truth is, it’s very doubtful that the Italian is the right man to lead Chelsea to their fifth Premier League title.
The Blues obviously got very lucky to finally grab the major European trophy and it seems that it was their fate to get the Cup when nobody expected that from them. Di Matteo, of course, was a crucial part in the success. He outfoxed Barcelona and Bayern tactically, playing ultra-defensively, but very successful football and Abramovich’s dream came to reality.
However, in the 2012-13 season, the Italian manager must develop his coaching philosophy. It won’t be enough just to defend well and use counter-attacks. There are a lot of good footballers in Chelsea who can build a variable attacking game style that would entertain fans. If Di Matteo wants to win the Premier League, he has to be more risky and adventurous.
What is more, the manager has to find the key to consistency during the season. Title race is a marathon, and not a sprint. If Chelsea distribute their power properly, winning the championship is doable.
Di Matteo lacks an experience and this is probably his biggest disadvantage. He has never been a manager of such a big and ambitious club before, when compared to Sir Alex Ferguson or Roberto Mancini. Last three months of the past season proceeded totally unexpected and enforced fans’ expectations.
Nevertheless, Di Matteo has to handle with a completely different situation and will be very interesting to see whether he can win through.
Buying one more striker will confirm that Chelsea can compete with Manchester titans and if Di Matteo pulls off another magical season, Roman Abramovich definitely has to think about building the manager a monument in front of Stamford Bridge.
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i hope they need a to sign a stiriker to support torres and the manager need an experience