We will never again see Jose Mourinho storming down the touchline, his coat flapping behind him as he falls to his knees to punch the air in celebration with us; never again those amusing and usually clever press conferences when, as one journo aptly put it, “the whole pub would go quiet to listen”; never again see him fighting our corner in the press and against the hypocrites who represent the insecure established old guard of clubs; perhaps never again the knowledge that our team has been meticulously prepared and ready to face and probably beat any opponent in world football and…most importantly, perhaps never again have that feeling of security, faith, belief and almost invincibility that Jose Mourinho gave us Chelsea fans so that we could sleep a lot better at nights.

A Jack Nicholson character might have told us: “We live in a world of guns where the wall needs to be guarded and you want Jose Mourinho on that wall – you NEED Jose Mourinho on that wall!” 

But he is gone.  No man is bigger than the club and we will continue to get behind the team in any form we can but witnessing how events have unfurled during the last few days makes it very difficult to feel in the same way about “the club.”   Chelsea Football Club have just managed to lose the best and most successful manager we’ve ever had.   

Why did it happen? 

But how did it get to this?  How, in “Chelsea of old” typical fashion, have we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot in the most spectacular style?  How, despite the clubs plans to become one of if not THE biggest club in the world, have we contrived to lose the most important component needed to achieve exactly that?  It truly is a cock-up of the most gigantic proportions!   

I have seen the Chelsea board make some horrendous bungles over the years, one of the most notable was the refusal to give manager, Eddie McCreadie a company car after achieving promotion with a young, attractive footballing side practically built from scratch with an 18 year old Butch Wilkins as captain, but events over the last few days put that little morsel far back in the shadows in the hall of incompetence at Chelsea Football Club. 

Abramovich 

This is not going to be an anti-Abramovich rant.   Who can argue with what he has done for us up until the 19^th of September 2007?  Whilst the likes of Hicks and Gillette or Glazier have largely borrowed (or totally in the case of Glazier) to purchase the Liverpool and Man Utd “franchises” and then consequently turn round and ask the fans to pay what they’ve borrowed back for them, Abramovich has put his own money in - with no interest payments eating away at revenue.  Even Arsenal, despite what appears to be a sound business model (albeit linked with success) had gone cap in hand to the Bank of Scotland to bale them out of potential mediocrity and incurred similar financial blood sucking penalties.  These three clubs that form the media favoured “old guard” will be paying at least 60-100M in interest payments a season and more in years to come. 

Roman Abramovich hasn´t wanted any of that for Chelsea.  He wants his money to go to the club to fund old debt repayment, set up one of the worlds best training and academy complexes and buy the best players – with no interest whatsoever! 

Compare the GENUINE enthusiasm the respective owners and board members have for their clubs;  Hicks and Gillette are hardly at matches for their Weetabix financial model enterprise known as Liverpool, save for the odd big game where they can be seen parading the streets of Liverpool with red scarves donned over $1000 suits, “at one with the people” (pass the vomit bucket please!);  Fischman, with his controversial diamond fortune (what manner are they mined?), is nearly always in Belgium and Lady Bracewell-Smith spends her time in the Home Counties – does she even know where the Emirates is?;  Hill-Wood, to his credit, attends most matches but then how much of Arsenal has he paid for?  He currently owns less than 1% of the club!  Glazer?  Shall I even bother going there?!!!  How many matches does he attend?!!! (Mind you, he’d probably get lynched if he did turn up so who can blame him?!!!). 

Abramovich, say what you like about him, he’s nearly always at Chelsea matches, in jeans and jumper and with almost child-like enthusiasm, despite having a financial empire to run that would dwarf the other members of the “big four” clubs portfolio into insignificance. 

So why, WHY …has the person who obviously has begun to love our club and put his money where his mouth is at an unprecedented level, snatched away the person who was so important to achieving not only his dream, but the dream of Chelsea fans worldwide?  In my view, it can only be because of RECENT occurrences between himself and Mourinho. 

In Abramovich’s last interview he spoke of his respect for Mourinho – and not just on a football level.  Some of the top suits at Chelsea such as Buck and Kenyon had even spoke of their “love” for Mourinho and even found many of the Portuguese’s more controversial statements and mannerisms as “very funny”.  Eugene Tenenbaum, Abramovich’s closest confidant, has, as ever remained mute from day one.   My personal conclusion is that this dark, ridiculous debacle in Chelsea history is the result of a rush of blood to heads after a frustrating night of football, a conflict of pride and emotion between two personalities – one Russian, the other Portuguese. 

There have been plenty of theories and “exclusives” in the media from journos claiming to have an inside track to Chelsea Football Club on why the relationship between Mourinho and Abramovich was deteriorating – I’d like to look at them and arrive at a reasonable explanation for Mourinho´s departure, although having said that, only Mourinho himself and the suits at the club are the only ones who will ever know the exact truth: 

Shevchenko 

“The Ukrainian striker was an Abramovich signing and Mourinho didn´t want him and therefore has been a constant source of tension between the owner and the manager.” 

Well, Mourinho was quoted as being after Shevchenko during the seasons before the players eventual arrival – even to the extent that he was the first player on his list when he was interviewed for the job by Abramovich and Kenyon.  Indeed, here is what Mourinho said on the day of the striker’s signing:

"Today is a day when the dream became reality. Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. "Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.

"I did not need to meet with him to convince him about Chelsea, in the same way we did not need to talk a lot about why I wanted him. Everybody knows him as a player; tactically he can play in the Chelsea system no doubt.

"He is a champion and he is joining a team of champions. I have already spoken to some of our players and they are looking forward to playing with him. Great players want to play with other great players.

I think that dispels the theory that Shevchenko was not a Mourinho signing or at least on his list. 

Both the Ukrainian and Abramovich speak the same language and had troubled childhoods but I think that’s where the similarity ends.  The most expensive Chelsea purchase in poorish form on the pitch has however, been an excellent stick for the media to beat the club with.

“Yeah, but Shevchenko´s only at Chelsea for the money and doesn´t  like Mourinho´s ethic!” some say.  Here’s what Shevchenko said when he signed:

"He puts team ethic before individual expression which is the way I believe great teams are created.

"Had money been my motivation for coming, I would probably have stayed in Milan.

The Shevchenko story has represented sensational but unfounded reading and has been so gratefully lapped up by the plebeian masses.  Chelsea fans that seem bent on booing the player because of the Shevchenko´s supposed blame in Mourinho´s departure have been suckered in – booing the player will only serve to make the situation on the field even worse. 

Abramovich Interferes with Team Selection 

Another ridiculous non-starter in my opinion, although again, a gratefully lapped up story by the anti-Chelsea brigade. 

Abramovich has already said that he doesn’t get involved in team selection during his last interview “…it wouldn´t work,” he said. 

Mourinho has already commented on the idea that the owner interferes with team selection: 

“If Abramovich picked the team we would be bottom of the league and if I got involved in his big business we would be bankrupt.” 

Avram Grant’s Appointment as Director of Football 

“Avram Grant being appointed at Chelsea will undermine José Mourinho´s authority – the Portuguese won’t stand for it.” 

This has got to be a top contender although, trouble is, comments from Mourinho before, during and after Grant’s arrival at the club possibly suggest otherwise: 

“It’s not my job to speak about him or about what he has to do at the club. The club statement was clear. He’s here to try to give some support to different areas in the club and, for me, that’s not a problem. If the club wants to bring people in to make the club better, to create a job for someone, to give support to different areas of the club, that’s no problem.” 

“From my point of view, it won’t interfere with the power I have in relation to my job. I welcome him, I’ll try to help him adapt to a club like Chelsea.” 

Later, even the then blood thirsty, anti-Chelsea media reported that Mourinho was observed “relaxed” and “chatting affably” with Grant upon arrival in California for the pre-season.  However, when you look at the opening sentence of Mourinho´s statement, “It’s not my job to speak about him or about what he has to do at the club…..”  It does hint at some discontent doesn’t it?  Perhaps Mourinho was really irked at the arrival of Grant, someone who would be monitoring his closed knit group and methodology ethic and his statements on the matter were part of towing the party line? 

Abramovich Wanted a More “Attractive” Style of Football 

“It’s no good just winning trophies and titles – Roman wants spectacular football as well.” 

What can be defined as “attractive football” would differ from person to person.  I, for example can appreciate the Manchester United all out “gung-ho” approach (although they hardly ever adopted that style against us – or couldn’t), Arsenal’s passing triangles and slide-rule through balls (but with a shot at the end would be nice!) or even the Brazilian national side’s smiley faced “samba flare” but I can also enjoy Mourinho´s power play method, swarming all over teams and crushing them.   

Who can forget a 10 man Chelsea constantly forcing Arsenal back in their own manor in the 2^nd half last season for example, reducing their fans to sing about Liverpool in their frustration at the spectacle before them?  Only a Mourinho side could do that.  A Man Utd fan, with whom I’ve enjoyed good debate on football, once told me “Nobody does this to Man Utd!” as we dominated for long periods when pressurising them at Old Trafford.  An Italian journalist once described us an “Armada” when putting Valencia under the cosh last season.  THIS, in my mind, is also “attractive football”!  Sure, we have had a few “get the result and conserve energy” type performances but is anyone going to tell me that all the other previously mentioned teams play endless, attractive football?   

I would admit however, that we probably have had a greater number of the more staid performances than say Arsenal or Man Utd, but that has come at the extra prize of greater success over the last 3 seasons than Wenger or Ferguson’s teams.  Perhaps this last point is something that Abramovich doesn’t find as an acceptable price to pay?  Perhaps he doesn’t recognise that the ability to grind out results against teams hell bent on defensive football is all part and parcel of sticking silverware in the trophy cabinet? 

The last 3 matches, namely against Villa, Blackburn and Rosenborg have certainly been frustrating with only 1 goal and 2 points out of a possible 9 although I’d argue that we have never dominated teams in terms of possession as much EVER under Mourinho before.  We hit the post a few times (Rosenborg), had a good penalty appeal turned down (Aston Villa) and even a valid goal ruled out (Blackburn).  It would appear that those three performances were “the final straw” for Abramovich and finally responsible for Mourinho´s departure.  Certainly the club mentioned this run of results and this being a consequence of the effect of tensions between Mourinho and the club: 

“The reason the decision has been taken is that we believed the breakdown started to impact on the performance of the team and recent results supported this view. We did not want this to continue or affect the club further. 

January 2007 and Summer Transfer Windows 

Chelsea Football Club were confronted with an almost obscene run of bad luck of injuries of key players by January.  If Mourinho was to have a favourable chance of achieving a third consecutive league title he would need cover and sharpish.   

Kenyon has a remit that involves, among other things, Chelsea breaking even within a specified time period - therefore not getting ripped off in the transfer market was and is key to achieving this.   

Bids were made for 3 players in January, but being held to ransom by the selling clubs was not an acceptable price to pay.  The time had come to say “No!  We are not going to be ripped off anymore.”    Ditto for this summer – most notably with the bidding for Daniel Alves from Sevilla. Did this situation contribute to Mourinho deciding he’d had enough?  His comments during January and the summer months would suggest otherwise –in fact, they indicated total support of Kenyon’s posture – “I want him but we’re not going to pay silly money!” sum up the gist of the Portuguese’s reaction. 

The Final Days 

Here are some extracts that appeared recently in the press, supposedly detailing how it finally came to be that Mourinho and the club “mutually agreed” to part company:

Thirty-one hours that ended an era at Stamford Bridge

Tuesday, 9.40pm Mourinho spends two minutes in the dressing-room after the 1-1 draw with Rosenborg. He has an equally brief exchange with Roman Abramovich in the players lounge.

Wednesday, 2.30pm  Mourinho is called to a meeting at Stamford Bridge with Abramovich, Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, and Eugene Tenenbaum, the director, to discuss Chelsea’s stuttering start to the season and a feeling that differences between manager and owner had become irreconcilable. Tenenbaum is understood to have articulated Abramovich’s frustrations over results, the teams playing style and Mourinho’s public outbursts, with the Portuguese sarcastically responding by asking which manager in the world could do a better job. At the end of the meeting Mourinho’s departure is seen as inevitable, although nothing is resolved.

6.30pm  Mourinho boards the team bus at Stamford Bridge with the bulk of his first-team squad for a trip to the screening of Blue Revolution, a film about Chelsea’s past three years. The Portuguese makes the unusual gesture of shaking all those players present by the hand.

6.45pm Mourinho meets Abramovich at the Vue cinema at Fulham Broadway, shaking his hand and greeting him with the words: Hello, boss.

7pm As the film starts, Mourinho sends text messages to John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho telling them he is leaving the club with immediate effect. None is at the cinema.

8.40pm Abramovich, Kenyon and Mourinho return to Stamford Bridge to continue their discussions and Mourinho leaves within an hour.

9.30pm Mourinho returns home and phones Frank Lampard to explain his reasons for leaving. He is believed to have said that he had been effectively dismissed.

10.45pm As news of Mourinho’s departure spreads, Bruce Buck, the chairman, and other directors and aides are called to an emergency board meeting at Stamford Bridge.

11pm Mourinho belatedly informs Jorge Mendes, his agent, who had been at the Champions League match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United.

Thursday, 1.45am Chelsea release a statement claiming that Mourinho has left the club by mutual consent.

3.30am The board meeting breaks up after deciding to appoint Avram Grant manager.

8.40am Mourinho arrives at the clubs Cobham training ground to say goodbye to the players.

Tuesday’s match against Rosenborg was watched by Abramovich and with the presence of his new girlfriend – who looked bored by the whole affair to be honest!  Abramovich could be seen chatting and laughing with her during the match.  Don’t tell me he felt embarrassed in front of his girlfriend by the fact that his club was struggling to overcome the Norwegian side? 

Certainly, he may have expressed his disapproval at the result to Tenenbaum who, in true “Godfather” style was the messenger who anxiously communicated his boss’s dissatisfaction to Mourinho – an immediate meeting must be arranged.    I can’t help feeling that Tenenbaum has a lot more to do with the departure of Mourinho than anyone else apart from Abramovich.  Just by how much is Abramovich influenced by him?  What do we really know about this man who is closer to the owner of Chelsea Football Club than anybody else?

The end - as told by the media

Mourinho´s departure from SW6 was announced in the early hours of Thursday of last week.  Shockwaves around the media and the world in general - desperate disbelief among the Chelsea faithful.  This had to be a bad dream surely?  

On Friday there then followed what can only be describes as a shambolic press conference.  A Spinal Tap guitarist had a Marshall amplifier that went up to 11 instead of 10 – on the cringeworthy scaleometer this media presentation by the club certainly went past the maximum.  

Kenyon looked extremely uncomfortable and nervous, Buck, whilst more composed, defensive.   The underlying feeling that neither of these Chelsea suits could believe what they were saying nor what was happening to Chelsea Football Club was unmistakable – puppets on a string.   

Kenyon was particularly unconvincing.  He appeared to be a man desperate to do his job even though on this occasion it flew in the face of what he knew was best for the club.   

“Mourinho did not lose the dressing room, the players are behind the board in Grant’s appointment but that doesn’t mean they wanted Mourinho to leave, Grant’s appointment is permanent but he doesn’t have a contract, Grant has no recognised record in football yet that isn’t important with regard to Chelsea Football Club’s intention to establish itself as a world force in football…..”  

As one journo put it  "Chelsea looked as far from their aim of global domination as the Tooting Popular Front did from a parliamentary majority under Wolfie Smith.” 

Past support from Kenyon and Buck

Kenyon and Buck have both publicly supported Mourinho recently with Kenyon being the more vocal of the two – he must be feeling extreme disillusion right now.  Kenyon MUST know this is all wrong and I wonder if he has the guts to resign.  Don’t get me wrong – I do not believe Kenyon is in any way responsible for Mourinho leaving – in fact, quite the opposite.  I believe he has done his utmost to maintain smooth waters between Abramovich and Mourinho.  I believe he knows that in footballing terms, Mourinho is the best there is and key to ensuring the success on the field that is so vital in aiding the commercial side of Chelsea’s activities in the consumer world.  It would appear that Mourinho´s departure was engineered completely over his head and therefore, he has no other option but to do the honourable thing…

My view 

Mourinho indicated on Friday evening that he didn´t feel loved and that the club wasn’t a block (a solid, cohesive unit acting in unison) so almost certainly the arrival of Grant DID contribute to his unhappiness but I believe that Mourinho´s departure wasn’t planned or engineered over months past. 

The suddenness of events demonstrate that the club was taken by complete surprise.  It wasn’t because of Shevchenko nor Abramovich picking the team although recent results/performances cannot be discounted given that Abramovich’s experience of football trends of results in general is still relatively limited.  Grant is a weak contingency and I don’t think even he, whilst feeling that he perhaps one day MIGHT take the helm, would never have expected it to happen now.    

I believe that this darkest moment in our history must have been to a sudden, unplanned confrontation of emotions and pride between two men after a frustrating evening’s football – neither could back down due to their individual characters.  Sure, Abramovich may have been irked now and then by Mourinho´s sometimes petulant behaviour but I don’t imagine by enough to dismiss the man – if so, then he would have got rid of him after only a few months at the helm.  

Whatever the real reason, or combination of events, the result is that the club, both on and off the field, will probably suffer for a few seasons to come. 

For some Chelsea fans, things will NEVER be the same again   As one Chelsea fan said “You just don’t get over José Mourinho.” 

Amen.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAI5x4BBD6o

QUOTES 

“I want to be surrounded by love so that I can express…..” 

"The whole club was not a real block”

José Mourinho 

“What is clear, though, is we had all reached a point where the relationship between the club and José had broken down. This was despite genuine attempts over several months by all parties to resolve certain differences.”

Chelsea FC 

“What Jose gave us was belief and a winning mentality.  For years we had Ranieri saying slowly slowly, the moment Jose came, he stuck 2 fingers up at the league, the media the lot and said fark you, we're going to win the title, we're going to be champions this season.”
Chelsea Fan

”Every game we played, I knew we'd win, didn’t matter who against... I believed and that’s why Benitez, Wenger and all the rest hated him... because they feared him. Fergie saw his young self in him and liked it.
Chelsea Fan
 

”That’s what we need to win the title that was the difference between Chelsea and the rest. Jose going has not only taken the belief away from us, but it has been a huge shot in the arm for Benitez & Wenger, who now see their biggest obstacle to the title disappear.
Chelsea Fan

Roman Abramovich's parents brought him into the world. He owns the club now and I feel very thankful he bought the club from Bates when he did. However, that doesn't mean I have to agree with everything he does, or "choose" between him and Mourinho. Jose has gone anyway - but the supporters have a perfect right to sing his name as much as they want, so long as they support the team as well.

Chelsea Fan

Only one way AG isn't going to get the permanent job and that's if he ferks up over the coming weeks and months. Those of you who think he's just a caretaker should take a closer look at the messages coming out of the club. Kenyon introduced him to the players yesterday as the permanent manager. Quotes in the Guardian from someone close to Roman say 'it's his job to lose'.

So those hoping he does okay and maybe draws with United and beats Hull City and Fulham with some sparkling football need to consider this. Is Grant the man you would choose to manage your club into the future? Does Grant have the credibility to attract the best players in the world to the club (not just the greediest)? Will he even demand the respect to keep our existing world class players onboard? Does he have the stature to build a club the way that Ferguson and Wenger have done? And finally, does he have the kind of record in football which suggests he will not just win the odd match here and there but will instead win trophies - and not just that, win playing beautiful football (because apparently, according to Roman, that's crucial)?

If your answer is no to those questions, even some of them, surely you can see that 'getting behind Grant' and 'giving him a fair chance' just make no sense. It is in the long term interests of the club to get him out ASAP. Therefore, it is in the long term interest of the club for him to ferk up in the short term - even if this season is written off in the process (which it is in my view anyway).

Not just that but as someone said last night, the appointment of Grant is not just wrong-headed and illogical; it is also contemptuous of our support. The club is effectively ripping the arthur bliss out of YOU with his appointment. Don't be sucked in. It is not compulsory for Chelsea supporters to 'throw your support behind the club' on this. That's new fan/supporter as consumer/Chelsea as brand thinking. Don't accept it. Make it very clear on Sunday and from then on that you do not accept that Grant is an acceptable appointment as manager.

And for the record his religion is irrelevant. His utter lack of credibility is.
Chelsea Fan “

A good friend of mine is a Villa supporter of many many years, but he’s not been to Villa Park for a few years because of his dislike for Doug Ellis. In his words he had raped and mugged the club and stuck two fingers up at fans.

I've argued that one has a better chance to change things from the inside than from a distance. He responded that a single penny from him to go to Ellis would make him physically sick.

For many many years I have struggled to under stand his reason and thoughts, why deprive yourself of something you love and care for.....

Today I understand him a bit more.....

Chelsea Fan 

"We are extremely sad about this. We are sad and we are shocked.

"For me there is no doubt, Jose Mourinho is the best coach in the world and I cannot believe that we have lost him.

"I never thought he would leave Chelsea without finishing his work, without achieving everything he wanted to.

"This is the first time he has ever done this and it will be terrible for him. He loved Chelsea.

"It has come as an enormous surprise to all the players. In the past few weeks the coach was unhappy because of our bad results but we were all working together towards a solution."

"It is important that we are united behind Grant because he is the future of Chelsea now. The match at United is now going to be an enormous test. Our mission is not to lose."
Ricardo Carvalho
 

"It's just amazing that Chelsea have put pressure on the lad [Mourinho] straight away.

"They expect him to win two European trophies in only a few years. That makes it difficult."

Sir Alex Ferguson

"I like Mourinho and had a good relationship with him when I had my job with England," he said. "Of course this is a surprise but I don't know the reasons for the divorce.

"I am sure people will miss him. He is colourful and good for football. But no manager is safe these days. The best way to keep owners happy is to play winning, attractive football."
Sven Göran Eriksson 

“The next step is backwards.”

Chelsea Fan 

“Let's see how vocal they are when Jose's confirmed replacement can't get anywhere near what he achieved. We will have the last laugh but as a lifelong Chelsea fan that will be no comfort I don't WANT us to be rubbish I wanted us to keep the best manager we ever had.

Chelsea Fan

"I have never come across him, but I just look at what he brought to the Premier League, and he raised the bar.  He raised the bar for everybody, even for the likes of United, the Arsenals, they had to liven up their act a bit, and they came back stronger again, United and Arsenal, in the last year or two.

"Jose Mourinho definitely did that for the Premier League, and he did the biggest challenge, where he turned a very good Chelsea team into a top team. That's the biggest step and the hardest step. There are lots of good teams out there - I could name you 10 and say, 'they are a good team' - but they are not a top team, and that is the gap he bridged. He will be a loss to the Premier League; there is no getting away from that."

Roy Keane 

"I just hope we can retain enough players to keep the spine at top level. Cech, Terry/Carvalho, Essien/Lampard, and Drogba: that's the best spine around.

Chelsea Fan 

“The Board of management are all poodles

“Chelsea Fan 

At least they haven't given him (Grant) a definite term of this permanent contract. They said in the conference they didn't have time to so have covered their backs if it all goes wrong in the short term he will be easy to get rid of.

Chelsea Fan 

“So, with the possible exception of some initial fire from the side (it's called the Hawthorne Effect, don’t y'know), I think we can expect a slow decline in results. We're too talented to get hammered left and right and will as likely stay in the top 4 as the second 4. Grant will have a miserable time and we'll be shopping for a saviour by January. It's that man who has a fighting chance: replace "Wormtongue," bring us back to top form, and we'll see about next season.
Chelsea Fan 

“The truly shocking thing about Jose's departure is the level of utter incompetence it reveals among the the senior management of this club. Abramovich's acolytes spent months - literally - briefing against Mourinho last season, and searching for possible replacements. All of them said "no thanks" - mainly for the reason that they know Jose is an incredibly tough act to follow. So then we had a change of management structure with the introduction of a supposedly "continental" sporting director in the form of another crony, Avram Grant. It was a transparent move to unsettle Mourinho and manoeuvre him into departing - not least because it was a breach of the terms on which he was originally appointed. But having primed the plot, they STILL didn't have a credible replacement, so now they find themselves obliged almost obliged to make an appointment that looks almost absurd. Now of course it may be that Avram Grant has hidden depths and can measure up to the toughest job in world football - which is what we're talking about - with zero experience of management at the top level (or even the second or third level). Maybe he has that special Israeli ability to turn things round in a few days. Maybe as we speak he has detachment of Special Forces preparing a surprise tank attack on Salford. As its Yom Kippur, who can tell? But as I write it looks as though the management team that claims to be on target for becoming the top club in the world by, what is it, 2014?, has been exposed as a troop of total bunglers.  Kenyon looks petrified now don’t assume our players can't go to Spain...

They may be on high salaries, but Spanish clubs can underbid our salary levels by 25%-30% and give them the same net pay as they get out Chelsea because of their tax laws. Add in free housing and other benefits, and there's no reason at all why players such as Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Carvalho and Cech shouldn't choose to follow Robben and Gudjohnsen.

Chelsea Fan

“He (Kenyon) is doing something he does not agree with if that is the case there is an honourable option.  At least if he did that he'd have more respect from us than he does now. He's not got the bottle to stand up to Roman.

Chelsea Fan

“Still cannot believe it, can't read articles about Jose-gate. Until today, I have refused to look at the BBC reports. Just seeing this makes me sick. I am left disenchanted, angry, and nostalgic...I always thought the whole Jose-Abramovich riff was overblown, and Jose was too proud of a man to leave with his work unfinished. I also thought Abramovich, being the successful business man he is, would have far too much sense to sack a manger who is the best in the game, and one of the greatest minds ever! IT turns out Jose was too proud. Too proud to sit in as a puppet. And it turns out that Abramovich is a Russian. As Dostoevsky said, Russians are the only people that can combine in themselves so many opposites at the same time. And Abramovich is a self-defeating success.

Chelsea Fan 

“FERGIE, WENGER AND BENITEZ MUST BE LAUGHING THEIR HEADS OFF!”

Chelsea Fan 

“Anyone can do it, right?  That's what many have said. Anyone could manage Chelsea and lead them to sustained success with unlimited funds at their disposal. It's not about the manager; it's all about the money.

Well, that theory is well and truly about to be put to the test, because Grant is as close to "anyone" as we're likely to see. Chelsea Fan ”

He has the resources, he has the players, he has the knowledge so why shou

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