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Harry Redknapp: Chelsea have a long way to go before they can match Man Utd’s heritage
Tom Collomosse 18.09.09
Harry Redknapp has told Chelsea they have a long way to go before the club are big enough to be in the “same bracket as Manchester United”, upping the ante ahead of his Spurs team's visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Peter Kenyon quit as Chelsea chief executive this week, five years after he vowed to “turn the world blue” by 2010, and four years after he pledged to make the Blues “the world's No1 club” by 2014. Yet despite Chelsea's improvement at home and in Europe since Roman Abramovich took control in 2003, they have struggled to gain the kudos of the giants of the world game such as United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
Even though the Blues have won six domestic trophies in four years, and reached five Champions League semi-finals in the last six seasons, the Spurs boss believes they will struggle to meet Kenyon's ambitions.
“I am not being disrespectful to Chelsea, but they are a long way from being in the same bracket as Manchester United, because of what United are,” said Redknapp. “United have always been a massive football club, they have a fantastic tradition and history, and they get 76,000 people watching them every week.
“Chelsea might finish above them in the table, but to get the recognition around the world United have is very difficult.”
Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, refused to contradict his Spurs counterpart, accepting that while the teams are closely matched on the pitch, United certainly have the heritage factor on their side.
The Italian said: “There is a lot of balance between the two teams. Chelsea are at the same level as United as a club and as a team.
“The only thing United has is more tradition in respect to Chelsea but this means that for us it can be a very good motivation to start this season very well.”
Unfortunately, the Blues' perfect start to the season on the pitch has not been mirrored in the boardroom.
With Kenyon already on his way, sporting director Frank Arnesen is also under pressure after the transfer ban imposed by Fifa for inducing French teen Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.
Arnesen was the club's chief scout at the time, and if Chelsea lose their appeal against the ban he may find the finger of blame pointed towards himself.
But Ancelotti today insisted that the recent weeks of corporate turmoil had not dented his faith in the strength of the club.
The Blues boss said: “Frank is a technical director and is working very close to me. I have a good relationship with him and together we want to do the best for the club.
“Kenyon did a very good job. I didn't know him very well but he leaves a fantastic team and club.”
Chelsea and Arnesen already appear to have found a way around Fifa's two-transfer window ban by signing 17-year-old keeper Matej Delac from Inter Zapresic on the condition that he won't move to Stamford Bridge until 2011.
Reader views (16)
Oh dear, why let facts get in the way? 1. since 1945 Chelsea have drawn an average league gate above Spurs,and miles above West Ham. 2. between 1993 & 2004(before Roman) we have won more trophies than Spurs, Villa, Everton, Man City, Newcastle put together. 3. Net spend over past 15 years puts Chelsea below Spurs 4. Roman has converted half his investment to equity so that money stays and he's hardly likely to walk away from the rest 5.if history counted, then Huddersfield, Notts County and Blackpool are 'big clubs. Spurs have been badly managed, spent a fortune, changed managers as if nor more than Chelsea and have nothing to show for it in the past 16 years. Fact
- Peter Bench, London
Harry's right. If Chelsea win 3 CLs as well as 3 PLs over the next 5 yrs....maybe. Actually what it's about (sorry to say) is about a teams' following in the Far East.
- Coys Switz, switzerland
How can the 4th best supported club in London even begin to hope to be the biggest club in the world?
- Jw, London, UK
Harry thanks for stating the obvious - see you Sunday!
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia
Top of the league we're having a laugh
- Paul, Ealing
As a football fan Its good to hear Joe Cole is back.
As a spurs fan I wished he'd left it another week....
- Mark, St Albans
It's all a matter of opinions. If you're a Chelsea supporter, frankly, it doesn't matter what other people think - comparisons are irrelevant and worthless. 'Arry's just cranking it up for Sunday when, in my opinion, he and his team are going to get an Italian footballing lesson at The Bridge.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire
And you never will be, spending millions in one hit does not always guarantee instant glory, Utd took years building up in the right way. I hate Chelsea more than Arsenal, they are the route cause of over arrogant over paid pre maddonna's that are rife in the premier league. You name one Spurs player that is not above himself?!
- Sd, WICKFORD
Unfortunately, the Munich air crash was a big factor in United's fame. I remember that as a kid back then, we all had "our" team, but would say that United was our "second" team. The whole world sympathised with the tragic loss of players and staff, and that cemented United in the conscience of football supporters. That they went on to recover from that and became the world leaders in performance and results speaks volumes for the management team.
I am a true Blue, hope this doesn't sound shallow, but we can't hope to compete with United's history
- Ronnie, Billericay England
Like it or not the facts are that Chelsea have never won the Champions League and have won only 3 leaugue championships in its 108 years as a club, two of those in the last 5 years. They may be a good club now but history and a long-term winning record are required in order to be recognised as a big club, which they are not. They have outspent everyone, except Real Madrid of late, but anyone can spend money. It takes a winning tradition, and consistent management, to build a respected club. Five managers in as many years only makes the situation worse. Getting rid of Peter Kenyon can only help as he was slime. Chelsea fans may enjoy the next few years but losing between £60M and £100M year for the last 5 years cannot be sustained long term and once RA (and his money) goes so will Chelsea's winning record.
- Steve, Nottingham
Harry Redknapp saves the World again!
- Graeme, Hornchurch, England
Chelsea won't be as big as Man U globally until they start wearing red ... Man U, Liverpool and even the Gooners are popular all over Asia and what's the common link? Blue is unlucky.
- Paul, London
Harry seems more interested in having a pop at other clubs rather than focussing on his own. Why is this? Is he trying to deflect something .... hmm ......
- Andy, London
Good one Harry , wonder how long it will take Tottenham !!
- Ben, Uk
I agree with Harry on this one (regarding world-wide recognition).
We aren't as 'big' as Man Utd and most Chelsea fans would accept that at the moment, but the club are making great strides towards narrowing the gap.
We are as good as them on the field and are clearly trying to replicate their achievements off it. Of course winning the CL will go a long way to spreading the worldwide popularity of the club but it certainly doesn't happen overnight, after all, we had to wait years to win our second & third titles and you might argue that 'unusal circumstances' have played at least some part in us not winning the 'cup with the big ears'.
So we may have to wait a while to be as popular as United, but true fans won't mind the wait and we'll hopefully enjoy watching a winning team along the way.
- Les, Surrey
I give up.
- Stu, Beckton
