Abramovich has also been financially assisting the Russian FA by putting up half of the funding for Guus Hiddink´s £7 million contract as Russia’s national team manager and just a couple of months ago, in December 2008, Abramovich was offered the post of head of the Russian FA. 

This was not the first time the position had been discussed with him.  Our Russian billionaire turned down the offer as he didn’t want the responsibility of public office with it’s possible ramifications of conflict of interest.

The head of the National Academy of Football (which is predominantly funded by Abramovich) Sergei Kapkov, said:

“It was suggested to him many times. But it wouldn’t be proper since Roman Abramovich owns and sponsors a number of clubs.”

Sibneft, a company in which Abramovich once held a major stake, sponsored CSKA Moscow in 2004 for an amount for somewhere between £30-50 million. UEFA rules allow only one club controlled by any one entity (person or corporation) to participate in European club competition in a given season but a subsequent UEFA investigation concluded that as a sponsor through a company there was no infringement of regulations.

CSKA Moscow had solid backing indeed and since Abramovich first assisted them financially in 2004 they won the UEFA Cup in the following season.  This was the first time a Russian club had won a major European trophy and the first time a Russian club completed a treble. Now, in 2009 CSKA will move into a new stadium.

The Russian Ministry of Defence is also one of the main shareholders of CSKA sports club of which CSKA Moscow Football Club forms a part.  From 2006 the club has also been sponsored by the Russian universal bank VTB which has assets of $52 billion - VTB is also, in turn, partly government owned through a shareholding of 77.47%.

The Kremlin has put $34 billion into banks such as VTB and told them to keep businesses afloat during the recession – VTB responded by assisting Evraz (of which Abramovich has a 36% participation) with a $364 million loan – which was to assist in unpaid taxes!

Now it could be that Abramovich was only fronting the shareholding in Evraz on behalf of the government anyway but nevertheless, there is a connected loop between Abramovich, the Russian government and entities that it can influence and the Russian FA.

Direct, official control is not and cannot be apparent, but it is clear that Abramovich holds great influence in Russian football. 

Chelsea and CSKA - A common philosophy

The striking similarities between what is happening at CSKA in Moscow and Chelsea in London are no coincidence – Abramovich has a common goal for football in both his natural and adopted homes.

The technical staff at CSKA are Brazilian and Russian.  The philosophy on playing style is to attempt to incorporate the best of both worlds by mixing “Brazilian” type players generally with nationals – almost the same process as what Chelsea are undergoing in London.

Former Brazilian football legend Zico, 55, was appointed manager of CSKA in January of this year but this is not the first attempt at part-instilling a Brazilian philosophy at the Russian club.  The previous attempt was carried out a few seasons earlier with Artur Jorge and apparently CSKA fans are yet to be convinced of Zico due to the unsuccessful period they experienced under his earlier Brazilian predecessor.

Like Scolari, Zico, planted in unchartered territory, faces a tough test in convincing the fans and realising the club’s dream of putting silver in the trophy cabinet through exhilarating football – but like Scolari he will need time and real support from the club in being allowed to bring in the players he feels he needs.

Patience is a virtue

So just how patient are we prepared to be? Or do we continually embark on a journey that involves sacking manager after manager until instantaneous stylish and winning football is produced by pure coincidence of circumstance? 

Sure, Scolari IS still learning in the Premier League.  Mistakes have been made but are we really expecting a manager with the “foreign to the Premier League attributes” the club requires, to just walk in, change our style instantaneously and rewards us with a league and champions league title in his first season? 

Current technical director at AC Milan, Leonardo who played under Scolari for Brazil recently gave his overview of the situation: 

“We are talking about five months since he took over. Chelsea are a team with big, big personalities and it’s not always easy to make your points of view.”

"You need time to instil your philosophy and system on a new side and to change players.  For the last five years Chelsea have played the same way and it takes time to change that.” 

Many of us didn’t ask for this new philosophy and the transition that it entails but it’s difficult to deny that the clubs ambitions are not only honourable but very desirable as well.

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The Future

Scolari only has a short contract.  Maybe even the club have their eye on potential Scolari successors to maintain the momentum of transition in the future? Managers that know Portuguese and South American leagues?

What we are seeing is all part of a plan and if it means the consequences are a potless season in the interim then it looks like we will just have to lump it.  Growing pains may have to be a necessary experience. 

Mourinho has gone but retains a friendly relationship with Abramovich.  Who knows, it may even be possible that our owner has a back-up plan in the form of first refusal on Mourinho in the future but the die has been cast on the need for more expansive football - Mourinho may be required to play a less rigid style if he returns to Stamford Bridge.

Manchester Utd (unfortunately for us to admit) do have an attacking style of football combined with the ability to win titles.  It might not be quite the style our club is aiming for but this combination was achieved by a manager who was given a lot of time and support from his club.

Ferguson spent more money than anybody from the very beginning and for subsequent seasons, yet it took him seven years to win his first English league title.  Barcelona also have "it" - but this didn’t come about suddenly - it has been honed and perfected over decades with only the odd brief interruption. 

Now we have Scolari and sacking him before he’s had any chance to even begin to carry out what he was brought in for in the first place would be an error (unless of course a manager that possesses many of the same qualities and contacts is already secured). 

All is needed is a bit of realism instead of spoilt hysteria.  Everything that is happening now re transfers and spending was spelled out to us from the very beginning of the Abramovich era anyway and far from deviate the club has stuck stubbornly to the script.  This rigidness on finances has brought with it sacrifices and frustration in the past, but for better or worse the aim has been to secure something which we just might cherish in the future. 

“Now for two or three years minimum we need to be thinking about the future. I understand this and agree about this methodology at Chelsea, and I understand and cooperate for this.' 

It couldn’t be any clearer.