CHELSEA BACK TO PRE-2003 STATUS?

The Abrahamovich revolution which took Chelsea Football Club from the doldrums, lifting it from an average club to an elite Europe super power status, with accompanying countless laurels gracing their gallery, appears to be on the bring of retarding. It may be too early to draw conclusions, but the signs are ominous.

Much of the successes could be adduced to the passion for Chelsea and football that is synonymous with the penultimate half-Jewish Russian owner. To Abrahamovich, Chelsea was not just an investment, it was a passion, and that passion kick-started Chelsea in 2003, after a 50-year quietude. Can we say so of the new owner?

Right or wrong, I see Bhoely as one of those "mere investors" in football. Premier league has a number of them. Those that lack the ambition to hit the top. They are content with merely being in the league (by avoiding relegation), only to be beneficiaries of the largese from FA and endorsement money. No passion for success ( which even brings the highest returns).

Chelsea's new owner has already displayed two conspicuous gaffes in his short reign ---- a lack of passion to equip the club in the various field positions it needs to strengthen, and the sacking of Tuchel. The first point, I have already touched upon. Hastily sacking Tuchel is, to me, not the ideal response to Chelsea's current form. TT is a rated coach. He has to his credit several domestic titles, he is about the only coach who has taken two different clubs to the Champions League final, back-to-back, and winning one of them. He gave Chelsea 2 very important continental trophies and a global trophy, all under 2 seasons. His tactics and philosophy to football are well respected by equally well respected coaches. Why the rush to sack him? What is even the point especially when you are considering the options of lesser coaches (no insult intended) to replace him?

Chelsea started a build up from Frank Lampard's era. It is within this same period that Tuchel marveled the world with that new team. The team is still building, and with the coming of new boys this season, time is needed to blend. How can you sack a coach as Tuchel before half season? For every sack under Abrahamovich, the reasons are very clear, and we see the results of his decisions.

Until Bhoely proofs otherwise with his next few steps, he will be seen as just one of those investors in the game of footbal. If that is so, then we may see Chelsea FC back to the pre-2003 status. An average team. Fans brace up.

Yemi Samuel is a sports enthusiast.