ROBERTO DI MATTEO toasted his birthday as modern-day Chelsea followed his footsteps all the way back to the summit of European football.The man who led them to a first Champions League triumph nine years ago turned 51 on Saturday and May 29 will now be a cause for double celebration.
Thomas Tuchel lifts the Champions League trophy with Chelsea, having only replaced Frank Lampard as boss in JanuaryCredit: AFP
Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo hails victory in the 2012 final with skipper John Terry but was soon oustedCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Di Matteo lasted just eight months and 17 days as boss of a club that has become synonymous with hiring and firing.
In one way Chelsea are pioneers of the gig economy, with owner Roman Abramovich’s fancy for a head-spinning turnover of managers since taking over in 2003.
It has cost millions and millions of pounds in pay-offs but even to people who value longevity and loyalty, it has to be said that somehow the policy works.
All that outlay can be made up and more with the prize money, TV cash, commercial rewards and kudos from winning a second Champions League title among all the other silverware that has been gathered at Stamford Bridge in the past 18 years.
Di Matteo’s historic triumph over Bayern Munich at their own ground during his brief reign shares similarities with the way Thomas Tuchel has barnstormed his way to glory at impressively short notice.
Tuchel had a sleepless night and a panicky flight to London from Paris when parachuted into Chelsea to take over from sacked Frank Lampard.
Lampard was axed on January 25 and Tuchel took charge of his first game two days later, a 0-0 draw with Wolves.
Di Matteo assumed control the very same day Andre Villas-Boas’ mutinous tenure ended with players in open revolt on March 4, 2012.
The quick fix worked then and it has worked again.
When once sacking a manager triggered uproar at Chelsea, it now generates merely mild eye-rolling and a few tuts, even when it is the club’s all-time top scorer who gets the boot.
Chelsea celebrate winning the Champions League for the second time with a deserved 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Man CityCredit: Reuters
Kai Havertz evades Man City keeper Ederson on his way to hitting a 42nd-minute decider for Thomas Tuchel’s improving Chelsea sideCredit: The Sun
Tuchel, who was axed himself by Paris Saint-Germain having reached last season’s Champions League final, is also being kept on his toes by a short-term contract.
He was twiddling his thumbs in the French capital and agreed a handsome £7million-a-year deal but one that expires at the end of next season.
With a second European Cup now on its way to the bulging trophy room at Stamford Bridge it is a formality that the German will sign a two-year extension to that with a decent pay rise.
The major difference between Tuchel and Di Matteo is that the man currently occupying the hottest seat in football is evidently the right man for the job.
There were always doubts about Di Matteo and just six months after lifting the huge silver pot in Munich, he was gone.
Not so much a notch on Abramovich’s bedpost but another deeply scored scar in his love-hate relationship with those who manage his teams.
AVB, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Jose Mourinho twice, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte. The only ‘long-term’ manager to go on his terms was Maurizio Sarri after winning the Europa League in his sole season.
Managing Chelsea usually ends in tears. However, it quite often seems to end in winning something as well.
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It now stands at 17 major trophies since the Russian swept into south west London.
Lampard may have proved himself the right man for the job in the end and maintains he is capable of managing at the highest level, despite getting his fingers burned a few months back.
Abramovich’s style is questionable in one sense. It is generally accepted that the football industry is a hard one with little sentiment and the cash rewards make up for that.
But when it comes to chewing up people who have sweated for you on the pitch, as Di Matteo and more significantly Lampard did, it is still cruel to treat them in such a way.
Abramovich gave a rare public statement after sacking Lampard, a signal that even his hard-headed, business-like lust for glory had been breached by feeling for once.
To be fair to the club, Lampard is still being paid by Chelsea and will be until he gets another job or his contract expires.
Chelsea gamble that they generally employ such high-end people that their cast-offs are quickly snapped up by rivals.
It is another calculated policy that seems to work and while it seems heartless, it satisfies Abramovich’s pursuit of shiny cups and the accountants’ need to keep the cash tills ringing.
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And nights like Saturday in Porto keep the Chelsea fans singing.
One of the favourite anthems is ‘We’ve Won It All’, to which opposing fans reply ‘You’ve Bought It All’.
They have a point but ultimately Chelsea fans, the players, discarded former managers and the owner just do not care. And if they don’t, why should we?
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