Chelsea: Is Roberto Di Matteo The Right Man For Task Ahead?
After Chelsea's heroics last season, Roberto has more than earned his stripes and he deserves this opportunity to dawn in a new era at Stamford Bridge.
Cynics amongst us might suggest that offering new Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo only a two year contract was a sort of resigned gesture from Abramovich after Pep Guardiola made it quite clear that he intends to take at least a years hiatus from the game. But after Chelsea's heroics last season, Roberto has more than earned his stripes and he deserves this opportunity to dawn in a new era at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's old guard fought their way to a historic Champions League triumph but the modus operandi has changed. A change of style is needed from the defensive heroics that saw Chelsea were successful in Europe and a more attacking fluid style of football is sure to be implemented. This is evidenced by the personnel brought in, as a raft of exciting new young signings descend on West London in the form of Hazard, Oscar, Marin, and potentially Wigan's Victor Moses. These players combined with the immensely talented Mata highlight a change in emphasise as Chelsea seek to emulate the exciting, fast, interchanging stylings of Barcelona. These are exciting times ahead for the Stamford Bridge faithful but it remains to be seen whether Di Matteo is the right man to usher in this new style. Changes are aplenty at Stamford Bridge, none more so significant than the departure of a certain Didier Drogba. With his spectre no longer looming large over Fernando Torres, this is El Nino's time to become the main man, a role he has relished in at Athletico Madrid and Liverpool. Indeed, the new style of play seems more suited to play to Torres' strengths, passing into feet and running at and around defenders as opposed to Didier who relished receiving the ball into his chest with his back to goal. The onus on Torres has never been greater and with the mooted arrival of Hulk looking increasingly unlikely, behind Torres they're a little light in the striking department. But coming off a strong end to the season and a Golden Boot in Euro 2012, Torres has both the players and style of play around him to succeed at Chelsea. The excuses are no longer there, it's sink or swim time. Roberto has little experience in bringing about such drastic overhaul, in fact his management career to date has been all too brief. It might be slightly harsh to condemn Di Matteo based on his ignominious sacking at West Brom but these don't sound like the credentials of a man entrusted with the massive task ahead at one of world football's biggest powers. Arguable what awaits is more challenging than the remarkable trophy double he achieved last season. He must overhaul an ageing Chelsea squad and spark a revolution, something that Villas-Boas tried and failed to do. One would hope that he's afforded the time that his predecessor wasn't but Roman has previous for acting swiftly and decisively in axing managers.