Only Mourinho can sort out this mess

Michael Hart
10 Feb 2009

Chelsea are a team in a mess. This is unfamiliar territory to one of the world's richest clubs and is particularly galling to their legions of fans because their fall from grace has been so rapid.

What is certain is that the restoration work at the Bridge will not happen overnight. Chelsea need to invest time, as well as money, if they are to recapture the status they enjoyed under Jose Mourinho.

Time is the one element managers treasure above most others. Was Luiz Felipe Scolari given the time he needed? Probably not. Was Tony Adams at Portsmouth, or Paul Ince at Blackburn? Certainly not.

Having dismissed Scolari after just eight months in charge, the challenge now facing Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich involves finding a solution that restores Chelsea's position as authentic title challengers.

He already knows he can forget this season. With just 13 matches remaining, Chelsea are seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United, who have played a game less.

The Champions League, though, remains a realistic target and an enticing challenge for any coach who might be tempted to knock out a quick job application to Abramovich.

But the Russian has already learned the pitfalls of acting in haste. He's now seeking a third Chelsea manager in less than a year and so he needs to get it right this time.

In my opinion, Abramovich should appoint a short-term successor and simply set him the task of ensuring qualification for next season's Champions League.

There are any number of quality, coaches who have the credentials for such a task - from foreigners Roberto Mancini and Frank Rijkaard to the homegrown George Graham and Terry Venables.

Availability is not an issue for this quartet, and a £1million bonus for securing a Champions League place will surely help overcome any possible doubts they would have about taking the job.

The bigger problem for Chelsea concerns the long term and the need to address the problems that have undermined Scolari's brief reign.

He inherited a talented but ageing squad and future success depends on how well Chelsea replace some of their senior men in the next few years.

Sustained success in football can take years to establish - but can be lost in just one season.

It's no surprise that three of the 'big four' clubs provide their Premier League rivals with the finest examples of managerial stability.

Manchester United have had one manager - Sir Alex Ferguson - in 22 years, Arsenal have had one, Arsene Wenger, in 12 years and Liverpool two, Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier in 11 years.

Compare this to Chelsea, who are about to appoint their seventh coach since Glenn Hoddle left to manage England in 1996.

So, who's best equipped for the long-term challenges at Chelsea? For me, Mourinho is the man. Now top of Serie A with Inter Milan, he remains the most exalted of all Chelsea managers.

Who knows, given the time, he could have done at Stamford Bridge what Ferguson achieved at Old Trafford. Like the competitive Scot, Mourinho is a born winner.

How Chelsea must now regret getting rid of him after his two title triumphs in three years at the Bridge.

A reconciliation with Abramovich seems unlikely, but tempting the little Portuguese back for the long term job would be my priority.

There are other good foreign contenders - notably Russia's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink - but Mourinho already knows the Premier League well, is aware of the intensity of the job and, of course, knows how to win the title.

Chelsea's last six coaches have all been foreigners, though a lack of local knowledge clearly contributed to Scolari's downfall and may force Chelsea to re-think their management policy and look at options among existing Premier League coaches.

A patient rebuilding job is required at Stamford Bridge and, with Martin O'Neill out of reach now Aston Villa are doing so well, I can think of no better Premier League candidate than Everton's David Moyes, who has been harrassing the 'big four' with incresasing success during his seven years at Goodison Park.