Over the last year or so leading up to Jose Mourinho’s departure, the fact that he and Roman Abramovich have struggled for control is indisputable.

When the Russian originally brought Mourinho into the club, it was evident that not only was he prepared to spend a fortune on the world’s best players, but he was also prepared to invest in what appeared to be the world’s most successful manager at the time. In doing so, he was clearly content to take a back seat role in affairs, allowing his ‘dream team' manager to do what he does best regarding team selection.

Despite having inherited a star squad on his arrival, Mourinho nevertheless still had the luxury of a practically limitless budget. To his credit though, he didn’t stumble domestically, winning two consecutive Premiership titles with a squad so full of world-class talent that suddenly their big rivals found that the bar had been raised. They responded.

'Abramovich is quoted as saying that in order to be considered a world-class team over a 10-year period, at least two Champions League trophies must be attained'


A reinvented Manchester United stole last season’s crown, whilst both Arsenal and Liverpool have rebuilt and are looking very strong. If the start of this season is anything to go by, one may as well pick any of the ‘big four’ out of a hat as pick the eventual winners.

During that fateful third season prior to Mourinho’s failure to capture the crown for a third successive time, it emerged that Abramovich had become bored with the Premier League title, perhaps even taking victory for granted. Instead, it was widely speculated that his growing frustration with European disappointment fuelled an ever-increasing and urgent ambition to lift the Champions League trophy.

Abramovich is also understood to have been at odds with his manager over the tactical negativity fans have become used to during the manager's reign. This gripe was no doubt compounded by the disappointment of yet another Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals on Merseyside. Abramovich is quoted as saying that in order to be considered a world-class team over a 10-year period, at least two Champions League trophies must be attained.

Although Abramovich went on record last season with reassurances to players and fans regarding Mourinho’s future, he also began to display signs that he intended to play a much more active role in team affairs. Take, for example, the purchase of Andriy Shevchenko. With his friendship with the Russian billionaire common knowledge, it is impossible to believe anything other than that the deal was done without due respect to Mourinho’s judgment.

No world-class manager in their right mind would even consider gambling over £30m on an over-30 foreign player, and rightly not, as his failure to adapt to English football has been apparent. Abramovich undermined Jose Mourinho still further by recruiting his own Director of Football, Avram Grant, considered by many to be the ‘spy in the camp’.

With Jose gone, Grant has been put in the managerial driving seat. It should come as no surprise to anyone that today’s football news is filled with Grant putting forth a mission statement which includes a commitment to entertaining, attacking football, exactly the sort of football which endeared Abramovich to the great game when watching Manchester United's famous victory over Real Madrid in 2003.

The big question is whether Abramovich is pulling Grant’s strings? Will he take his real-life game of billionaire fantasy football a step further by controlling Chelsea’s team selection from his ivory tower? If so, it is likely that Grant’s appointment will be made permanent, as any manager worth his salt would be reluctant to play second fiddle to a sporting megalomaniac who knows little or nothing about football.

The best way to tell will be if his old pal Shevchenko suddenly finds himself playing 90 minutes each week.

Will Avram Grant be allowed to be his own man? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.