Not that I want this to become a Chelsea blog…but news is news people! Carlo Ancelotti was today named as the successor to Guus Hiddink. Do you think Chelsea hired Ancelotti because he looks a little like Guus? Check out the picture of Guus with the F.A. Cup below and judge for yourselves. Perhaps the owner and executive team hired the Italian master so the players can feel “comfortable” with a familiar face in the dressing room!
Chelsea have hired someone with real pedigree in Carlo Ancelotti. He has been hugely successful in his career as a player and a coach. Ancelotti arrives at Stamford Bridge following a mediocre season at AC Milan, but don’t be fooled…this man has won it all! The Italian Cup, the Super Cup, the World Club Championship, the UEFA Cup and Serie A. He is also part of an elite footballing group being one of only 6 players who have won the Champions League as a player and a coach. The most recent coach to do that was Pep Guardiola this year with Barcelona.
Ancelotti is an interesting character too. I think he’ll live upto that character a lot more than Phil Scolari did. Some people say he’s as fascinating as Jose Mourinho. In order to manage a club like Chelsea or the “big four” in general, you have to have that something special. Hiddink had it, plus he also started to help erase the memory of Mourinho during his time with the Blues. If you look at Ancelotti’s successes as a player and coach, it appears he might be able to erase the memory of Mourinho completely in his first season. Unless he smokes during training of course and gives his players unnecessary respiratory problems to the point where they are unable to compete and have to forfeit their season.
Do you think Chelsea have made the right choice? Can you see them winning the title with Ancelotti next season? Do you think the Italian master will bring any of his ex-players with him from AC Milan? And will he be able to square-up to Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger?
A rumour flying around is that The Russian Billionaire wanted to hire a “yes man” because he wants to be more hands on this year, don’t know if it is true, but when he tried to tell Mourinho what to do he left, so he hired his friend Avram Grant and i’m sure he was his puppet, not too sure with Scolari, but there is a track record. Will Ancelotti will see out his three years?
The British press are saying Abramovich wants to be more hands on including who is bought and sold and some are even talking influences on team selection.
I think if Ancelotti doesn’t deliver the Champions League next season the pressure will be on. He knows he’ll have to deliver a trophy in the first season and the Russian billionaire wants the Champions League badly. He’s also another tricky character, so the question is will he and the owner get along. Either way, Chelsea could use some stability with regards to leadership. They have an aging team and their youth system is not renowned at the best. Ancelotti gives them a good opportunity to win now.