HE has got the £130million yacht with two swimming pools,
two helipads and a submarine. He has the 440-acre estate in West
Sussex, the flat in Belgravia and the £28m six-storey mansion in
Kensington. He has the £1m bomb-proof Maybach 62 limo. And he
traded in one older model his wife Irina for a younger one, a
raven-haired beauty of 22.
But the one thing Roman Abramovichs billions cant buy is the
Beautiful Game. He first fell in love with the sport on a memorable
night at Old Trafford in April 2003, when Real Madrids Ronaldo
received a standing ovation after a 59-minute Champions League
hat-trick.
On the pitch were other global stars like Zidane, Figo, Roberto
Carlos, Veron, Beckham, Keane, Van Nistelrooy and Giggs. Enough to
turn anyones head. So the Russian bought Chelsea, poured £350m
into the project and entrusted his dream to Jose Mourinho.
Success was immediate: back-to-back titles, something a football
institution like Arsenal had not managed since the Thirties. But,
then, the lustre started to fade. Though supremely well-organised
and hard to beat, his side would not play the way he wanted. So he
and his associates moved in.
It all came to a head at Villa Park 19 days ago, when Abramovich
stormed out of his seat. The body language said it all. Further
pressure was applied by Peter Kenyon saying Abramovich wanted two
Champions League crowns in six years and do it the right way,
Jose.
Then on Tuesday we came to the depths of the 1-1 Champions League
draw with Rosenborg watched by 24,973 just 2,000 more than turned
up at The Valley for Charlton versus Norwich. It is claimed Red Rom
spoke afterwards for 20 minutes with Sheva, asking where it had
gone wrong.
The dark clouds became tinged with lightning when Abramovich heard
of a row between Mourinho and John Terry the manager concerned
about his skippers form, even seeking a possible explanation from
the clubs medical team. A day later, the Chelsea board met to
discuss the causes and ramifications of the meagre Euro
turn-out.
The greatest irony was that it took place just as a young, vibrant
Arsenal side were thrashing Seville 3-0 in front of 60,000 ecstatic
fans paying even higher prices than Chelsea supporters. A team,
patiently assembled at a fraction of the cost lavished on Chelsea,
playing exactly the sort of attacking, entertaining football that
Abramovich had always dreamed of.
So now the switchback ride is over. Mourinho will take a time-out
before what many believe will be an inevitable return to football
in Italy.
