THE TRIUMPH AND BETRAYAL OF ROBERTO DI MATTEO, CHELSEA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL BOSS EVER

He lasted just 262 days – 262 days that transformed the fortunes of Chelsea Football Club and finally laid to rest Roman Abramovich’s holy grail. Yes, by winning the Champions League, Roberto Di Matteo made everything Roman had done – and all the millions he had invested worthwhile. But six months later the Russian owner of Chelsea rewarded him for his brilliance…with the sack.

Roberto Di Matteo : robbed of his job.

Di Matteo was the manager who took the club to its greatest ever triumph – one which marked him out as the club's most successful manager ever - that balmy night in Munich which now seems an age ago.


Even then, as Roberto celebrated, you could clearly see from the body language that Roman didn't really want to acknowledge his part in the triumph. He never really rated him; he only saw him as a stop-gap and was really forced into giving him a full-time shot at the job until he could get his own full-time next man in (ie Guardiola).


But what Di Matteo achieved that night in Munich was extraordinary - almost miraculous, as he urged on his men to a triumph they really had no right to expect. They were playing the hosts and favourites and emerged with the cup with the big ears against all odds (including beating Barca on the way).


Fast forward six months (to now) and Di Matteo has tried to implement Roman's desire for Chelsea to play a la Barca - with three little guys in Mata, Oscar and Hazard - and passing from the back (which meant keeping David Luiz at centre-back instead of the more reliable Ivanovic).


He has had three months (from August and the start of the new season) to implement a brand new, revolutionary change in playing approach and, as the players inevitably needed time to gell and get used to each other and the new system, he found it difficult to achieve overnight. His reward was to bestabbed in the back. Betrayed for not beating or drawing with Juve away - and let's not forget this is the team who could well go on to win the Champions League. OK, there have also been a couple of dodgy results in the league too, but as Istress again, he was trying to overhaul a way of thinking; from the time of Drogba and Co, when brute force won the day, to a more sophisticated style of play. There were always going to be lean spells as the change took shape.


In essence, he was expected to work another miracle from August to November (changing the mentality and style of play) after already working one in Munich in May. His sacking was the end game – a shocking way to treat someone who had done so much for a football club close to his heart.


RDM deserved better – and Chelsea fans certainly deserve better than the interim, defensively minded joker who will surely now take their team back to the dark ages…even if it is only for six months.


Forget the dreams of being the new Barca for the next few months – Rafa Benitez will underpin his team with a dour defensive edge. Ironic that when Roman wanted to move forwards with entertaining football, he ended up with a man whose philosophy is to bring about the exact opposite.


I wouldn’t be surprised if RDM is laughing in his beer at that irony tonight and probably saying, ‘They deserve each other!’


FRANK WORRALL @weeklysport

FRANK WORRALL SAYS - TIME ROMAN MADE JOHN TERRY MANAGER AT CHELSEA..!

FOOTBALL -

TIME ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
MADE JOHN TERRY MANAGER
AND FRANK LAMPARD
ASSISTANT MANAGER
AT CHELSEA


OK, I accept I have been critical of the old-timers at Chelsea over the last few month. I felt that Frank Lampard, in particular, was not supportive enough of Andre Villas-Boas, and that both he and John Terry had acted as though they ran the club below the level of Roman Abramovich. Terry’s touchline gesticulations when he went off against Napoli suggested as much – that he was the REAL manager, not interim boss Roberto di Matteo.

Well, now I have decided to eat humble pie – of sorts – and am suggesting to you (and my old friend Roman) that the best thing Chelsea FC could do now is plan for the future – by making John Terry manager and Frank Lampard his assistant.

To an extent, they ARE already in those roles already – whatever they might say. Sure, Di Matteo is the man on the touchline and the man who is picking the team…up to a point. But you’re telling me that Terry and Lampard haven’t had much input into his decisions and tactical changes? Di Matteo himself has admitted he talks to the senior players and takes their views into account. He is not a stooge, but he neither has he the authority to do something that would cross Terry or Lampard.

The other week he ‘dropped’ Lampard – a signal many commentators claimed only highlighted his strength. But my insiders at the Bridge tell me that it was agreed with Frank – that Frank realised that resting is part of the game at this crucial juncture of the season.

Since Di Matteo took command, Chelsea have settled and done well – because Terry and Lampard have settled and done well. The old boys are back in the driving seat. Put it this way: do you really think the unimpressive Avram Grant was the reason Chelsea got to the final of the Champions League in Moscow in 2008? Do me a favour! Look at Grant’s record before and after Chelsea – he is a managerial flop. He was a mere figurehead at the Bridge as Terry, Lampard and Drogba psyched up the team and took them so close to glory.

So, surely it now makes sense for Roman to do the inevitable: you make John player-manager and Frank player-assistant manager. You mererly put on record the situation behind closed doors. Di Matteo? Well, he is another Steady Eddie and Frank and John like him – so why not make him, or Guus Hiddink, director of football? You use one of the two to attract worldwide stars because of their names and standing in the international game. Simple as that.

And I’m predicting that if Roman did give John and Frank the reins, they would be a major success. Frank is the ideal foil for John: a calm, composed, intelligent assessor to John’s more passionate, hand-on-heart approach. A sort of Clough and Taylor designate for the modern era.

Go on Roman – give them a go. They love you, too, and would work within your framework. I am sure it’s a move you would not regret…

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MOTOR RACING -

Chinese Grand Prix

The Formula One show heads for China this weekend – and Lewis Hamilton will be aiming for a repeat of his super show in Shanghai last year. Then, he stormed home in front of Red Bull pair, runner-up Sebastian Vettel and third placed Mark Webber. Lewis drove brilliantly – but then so did Webber, the Australian pipping Jenson Button for third after starting 18th on the grid!

The Chinese GP is traditionally a thriller – last year Lewis and Jenson both stole a march on Vettel at the start – so stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed that our two super Brits can come home in first and second. The last thing we want this year is another triumphant procession by German Vettel – and judging by what I’ve seen so far in Australia and Malaysia , Lewis and Jenson are BOTH going to have a major say in where the title ends up.


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FRANKIE’S FLUTTER

THE BIG footie matches are both in the FA Cup this weekend – with two semi-final derby clashes taking place at Wembley.

The first on Saturday sees Everton and Liverpool go head to head. The Mersey giants are also competing to see who can finish highest in the league with nothing between the two in recent weeks.

I am taking Liverpool to beat Everton 2-1 after extra time and continue their fine form in the domestic cup competitions this term.

On the Sunday it’s the turn of London ’s footballing giants to do battle – with Chelsea and Tottenham at Wembley.

I’ve got a feeling that Spurs will emerge victorious – by 3-2.


(For more information on Frank and his bestselling sports books, see www.frankworrall.com)
Weekly Sport readers can buy Frank’s insightful book on Sir Alex Ferguson for the special price of only £2.74 on Kindle (retail price £17.99 for the hardback)…go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Fergie-Wonderland-Biography-ebook/dp/B00603XJB8/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326291046&sr=1-7