2012/2013 Season
Review:
After a
euphoric end to the previous season, winning both the FA Cup, and the Champions
League, Roman Abramovic decided to keep the popular Roberto di Matteo as
manager for the start of this season. With the traditional influx of expensive foreign
talent, such as Eden Hazard (Lille) and Oscar (Internacional), Chelsea started
the year looking like potential title contenders. Despite losing the
traditional curtain opener of the Community Shield to Manchester City, Chelsea
began the season under di Matteo well, winning their opening three league
games. An emphatic 1-4 defeat by a rampant Atletico Madrid side, and in
particular, Radamel Falcao, in the European Super Cup, jolted Chelsea back to
ground. Despite a minor loss of form, they recovered well, winning games
against Arsenal and Tottenham to firmly establish themselves towards the top of
the Premier League.
Two
periods of two games had a significant impact on the dismissal of di Matteo in
November. Firstly, consecutive defeats at the back end of October, firstly away
to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, and then at home to Manchester
United in the Premier League, put the defence of their European title in
jeopardy, and gave an indication of their position relative to the Manchester
clubs. The final straw(s) came in consecutive defeats once again. Firstly, away
at West Brom, ironically the ground on which Andre Villas Boas had lost his job
the year previously, and then against Juventus in Turin, which practically
ended the defence of Chelsea’s European crown. Abramovic decided that enough
was enough at this point, removing di Matteo, and replacing him with ‘Interim
Manager’ Rafael Benitez, in an almost universally unpopular move. Benitez’s
history with Chelsea is patchy at best, with him having several high profile
spats with the club during his time at Liverpool.
The
title of ‘Interim Manager’ also caused considerable controversy. It implies a
kind of caretaker role, suggesting that Benitez was never likely to last more
than half a season at best. Whilst we all may have assumed this, it may hurt
morale to practically tell everyone through a thinly veiled euphemism.
Regardless of his title, he did little to endear himself to the Chelsea fans
initially, with two 0-0 stalemates, followed by a 3-1 defeat at Upton Park.
This period of the season was characterised by a period of applause and
chanting of di Matteo’s name in the 16th minute of every game,
representing his shirt number for the club, in an attempt to illustrate the
fans dissatisfaction with his dismissal. A further defeat in the Club World Cup
Final heaped more pressure onto Benitez’s shoulders, who before Christmas
responded. Chelsea went on a run of four straight victories, including an 8-0
thumping of Aston Villa, with 7 different scorers.
Nevertheless,
trouble was never far from Benitez’s Chelsea. January’s home defeat to QPR,
swiftly followed by a Capital One Cup Semi Final exit at the hands of Swansea,
and polished off by subsequent 2-2 draws with Southampton, Reading and
Brentford, put Benitez right back under pressure. Once again, he and his
players responded, progressing to the Semi Finals of both the Europa League and
the FA Cup, eliminating Manchester United in the latter after earning a battling
draw from 2-0 down at Old Trafford. They also performed much better in the
league during this period, dropping points only away at Manchester City and
Southampton. A controversial FA Cup Semi Final defeat to Manchester City
followed, with Chelsea believing they deserved a penalty, and that Sergio
Aguero was lucky to remain on the pitch after a nasty stamp on David Luiz. Two
victories in the legs of the Europa League Semi against Basle set up an
intriguing encounter in Amsterdam against Benfica, where an added time
Branislav Ivanovic goal clinched a 2-1 victory for the Blues. On home soil,
Chelsea were still competing for a place in the top four, a target achieved
when they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on the penultimate matchday, the highlight
of which was Frank Lampard finally being offered a contract extension after he
broke Bobby Tamling’s record 202 club goals.
Overall,
whilst Roberto di Matteo can consider himself highly unfortunate to have been
relieved of his duties, Rafael Benitez, after a slow start, can surely be
considered as a relatively successful manager. A European Cup, though not as
prestigious as last year’s, and a 3rd place finish, giving Chelsea
an automatic route into the Champions League group stages next year. Whilst
Chelsea fans may never wholly warm to him, the banner displayed on the last day
of the season at Stamford Bridge speaks volumes: ‘Thank You Rafa, Job Done’.
Player of the Season:
Juan Mata – A sublime talent, the diminutive Spaniard possesses incredible
vision, creativity and flair. Finishing top of the creator charts, and earning
a deserved place on the PFA Player of the Year shortlist, perfectly finishes
Mata’s most successful season as a Chelsea player.
Game of the Season: Benfica
1-2 Chelsea – The drama of the Munich penalty shootout from May 2012 it was
not, but a European cup final is a European cup final. Chelsea left it
typically late to snatch the win, with the consistently impressive Branislav
Ivanovic conjuring up the vital winner.
Summer Transfer
Targets (Who I Think They Need): Chelsea’s squad of world superstars still
appears too incohesive to be true title contenders. So therefore, what I truly
believe Chelsea need most is a consistent manager. The return of ‘The Special
One’ has been the worst kept secret in football for the last few months, and
with him in Chelsea’s dugout once more, I wouldn’t put much past the Blues next
year, especially if targets like Radamel Falcao and Xabi Alonso follow Mourinho
from their opposite ends of Madrid.
Transfer Gossip
Links:
In:
Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid, Manager), Radamel Falcao
(Atletico Madrid, ST), Neymar (Santos, ST), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, CDM),
Edinson Cavani (Napoli, ST)
Out:
Rafael Benitez (???, Manager), David Luiz
(Barcelona, CDM), Yossi Benayoun (???,CM)
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