The term "poisoned chalice" often goes hand in hand with the managerial vacancy at Stamford Bridge. Since 2008, Chelsea have had seven managers. There is an old rhyme for Henry VIII's many wives - Divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Well the rhyme for Chelsea's managers over the last few seasons reads something like this: Sacked, sacked, survived, sacked, sacked, sacked. Only Guus Hiddink managed to leave with even a semblance of credibility in tact, he left on his own terms. Rafa Benitez became the ninth Chelsea manager in eight years since the appointment of Jose Mourinho, and it has so far proved to be an immensely unpopular decision given the time he spent at Anfield when Chelsea and Liverpool were going toe to toe in some memorable Champions League encounters. Fans have voiced their discontent, even holding up banners reading "Benitez out" just weeks into his reign. Chelsea need to get a grip on this, and quickly. When there is instability in the ranks, this breeds in the dressing room also. Chelsea's players mustn't have a clue who is coming or going and who might be the next manager through the door in the new year, and this will undoubtedly create disharmony. Look at what Man United have achieved over the last two decades with Sir Alex Ferguson consistently at the helm. Even City are standing behind Mancini despite another set back in Europe. Chelsea must learn lessons from the two Manchester clubs if they are to win the Premier League again any time soon.
