Roman Abramovich's five years at the Bridge

From Chelsea magazine July 2008:

IT’S FIVE YEARS exactly since Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea FC. So, just how should we interpret the first part of the Russian oligarch's reign - and is he a no-nonsense, tough, interfering dictator, or benevolent, well-meaning bearer of gifts? First, let me say it strikes me that most critics like to see Roman in black or white, usually black, depicting him as a dark, menacing influence. This view clearly suits the comic book images they like to set up for their readers - just as, say, Cristiano Ronaldo is either a Judas for wanting to leave Man Utd, or a lad who is, after all, only following the instincts of his manager Ferguson, who once himself had no qualms about quitting Aberdeen for his own dream job.
Yes, my feeling is that life is rarely black or white: it is a mix of both.
So Roman's reign has elements of both simplistic viewpoints outlined above. He has at once been tough and demanding of his staff, but also a wonderful beneficiary to the history of Chelsea FC.
When he took over on July 1, 2003, Chelsea were in financial disarray - with estimated debts of £80million - and had not won the league title since 1955. That's 48 long years.
Yet five years into the Abramovich era, the club have won the same coveted honour twice. Talk about two buses coming along when once you had to wait all day for one!
Roman has also invested heavily to bring the world's top players and coaches to the Bridge.
Okay, many Blues fans still pine for the great, lamented Mourinho, but now a similarly new exciting era looms with the appointment of the Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari. I believe that 'Big Phil' will severely examine United's hold on the league title and the Champions League. Some have questioned whether he was the right choice to take over at the Bridge after Portugal's disappointing Euro 2008 exit, but looking at it another way he did well to take them close to the summit given his lack of an obvious, top-notch centre forward.
In club football that will not be a problem - thanks to Abramovich, Big Phil will have the cash at his disposal to plug any obvious deficiencies in the team.
I also do not accept the view that Roman has consistently been interfering with the team - trying to get the manager to pick so and so. In fact, Jose confirmed that in a recent interview, saying it had not happened while he was in command - and that Roman was a good man to work for.
Similarly, if Roman had wanted a stooge as head coach - a man he could have strung along like a puppet to pick the players he wanted - he would surely have kept his old friend Avram Grant in the job? It would surely have been easier to have bent Grant's ear with requests than an old battler like Big Phil? The man who has thrived on confrontations in a quarter of a century as a top-notch manager - and who has made it clear he will be in charge, or he will be off.
No, my view is that the Press should give Roman a break and lay off the clichés and stereotypes. The man is a winner - a tough businessman who wants to translate his success in industry to his chosen sport, football.
The facts speak: his five years at Chelsea have coincided with the most successful era in the club's history. Two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, one bodged penalty kick from winning the Champions League.
One other thing this month...we mentioned Ronaldo earlier, and it struck me how his playing of his on-off Utd/Real Madrid transfer merry-go-round saga contrasted sharply with that of the man I consider to be the unsung hero at the Bridge.
Step forward the great Michael Essien.
The midfield warrior king – the glue that enables the likes of Michael Ballack and, shortly, Deco, to shine. I love the Ghanain for his never-say-die attitude, his lung-busting forays and his magnificent power and strength on the ball.
And I also love the man’s loyalty to the football club who took a gamble by paying £26million to the French club Lyon for his services in 2005.
While Ronaldo consistently refused to kill off the rumours that he wanted to join Madrid and seemed to revel in the hornet’s nest he was stirring up – a hornet’s nest that was destabilizing the club and team-mates with whom he had just won the Champions League – Essien was strong and steadfast when it was put to him that he might be tempted to join Jose at Inter Milan.
Essien immediately ruled out a switch and stressed his allegiance to the Blue flag.
However, Essien, who was brought to Stamford Bridge by Mourinho from Lyon in 2005, has insisted he is looking to next term with Chelsea.
He said: ‘I will go back to Chelsea for the next season and expect to have a great season. We have shown as a club that we can handle disappointments, and I think we will be able to bounce back next season a better side.
‘Most of the guys have gone on holidays and they will put the disappointment of the last season behind them. The season generally was very disappointing, but that is football. When you put these things behind you, you become stronger.’
That is my kind of man; my kind of football man. Loyal, fiercely dedicated to his club and their cause. In much the same way as Roman Abramovich has been to Chelsea – despite what the knockers, motivated by jealousy and envy, would have you believe. See you next month.