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Comment: Does The Search For Being 'Sexy' Always Pay?
At a time when Barcelona’s total football has earned them all the plaudits and glory, Goal.com ponders whether the search for ‘sexy football’ doesn’t always pay, especially in Chelsea’s case...
30-May-2009 6:33:00 AM
Barcelona have won the Champions League, La Liga and the
Copa Del Rey and in such style, that they have been branded the ‘best in Europe’
throughout the season. Probably, this is what Chelsea wanted when CEO Peter
Kenyon said that they wanted to be the “number one” club in the world.
Ever since the Roman Abramovich era began back in 2003, Chelsea have never finished third in the Premier League, an astounding seven points adrift Manchester United. The Russian billionaire wanted trophies at Stamford Bridge and that has happened only during the Jose Mourinho era.
The now former Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri was dumped following the 2003 season for guiding the Pensioners to a second place finish and a Champions League semi-final. ‘The Special One’ made his foray on the English soil.
Under the Portuguese tactician, Chelsea won the Carling Cup and their first Premiership title. The club was unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League semis by a Luis Garcia “ghost goal”. The following season, Chelsea continued their success as they won their second successive Premiership but, were ousted in the round of 16 by eventual winners Barcelona.
In the 2006-07 season, Chelsea were once again sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals by Liverpool and they couldn’t retain their Premiership crown. Carling Cup and FA Cup were the two trophies the club had to brag about. However, following the apparent ‘mutual consent’ with Chelsea management, Jose Mourinho left the English club with an unknown Israeli by the name of Avram Grant taking over.
Abramovich and company wanted Chelsea to become a force to reckon with in the football world and have all the flair but, while Mourinho served the first but the second was missing as he employed an effective way of playing the game.
‘Sexy’ football involves use of width, sudden burst of pace, short passing game, movement and most importantly, in a very fluid system which then creates the necessary space needed to score. There is an opinion, however, that Barcelona are able to successfully employ this system as in La Liga, as the players aren’t very often closed down as in the Premiership, which is considered a physical league. This is probably what Stoke City coach Gerry Francis meant when he spoke of his doubts about Barcelona winning the Premier League with their brand of football.
Coming back to Chelsea and it looked like Grant was to bring in the ‘sexy’ revolution especially after the 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City. But that soon faded and Chelsea ended the season being the ‘almost’ side in the Carling Cup, Premier League and most importantly, in the Champions League.
It was Chelsea’s first trophy less season after three successful seasons, though the consistency levels were maintained by Grant.
Enter the Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari, and it seemed the ‘sexy’ football had come with him. The full-backs were more involved in the game and the club looked intent on scoring goals even when winning by a 1-0 or a 2-0 margin. Under him, the club’s 86 game unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge ended with a 1-0 loss to Liverpool and the reputation of ‘the Bridge being unconquerable’ had diminished.
Once again, there was a change and this time, came a man for the rescue act. Guus Hiddink has done a fine job in taking the club to a ‘now’ respectable third spot as under Scolari, it seemed that the club might eventually go further down. They ‘almost’ reached the finals of the Champions League and according to the Blues faithful, it was the referee Tom Ovrebo’s decisions which cost them.
Chelsea haven’t played very attractive football under Hiddink and were criticized by several media and Barcelona players, of being too negative in their approach at the Camp Nou 0-0 draw. It was branded ‘negative’ football by many. However, many felt that it was the right tactic against a free flowing Barcelona side. They called it the ‘pragmatic’ attitude of Hiddink, which ‘almost’ but worked for them.
Several players have voiced their frustration, including skipper John Terry, at not winning a trophy for almost two seasons. The only chance of redeeming themselves would be to win the FA Cup against Everton at Wembley. However, the only Premiership side they faced on their way to the finals was Arsenal in the semi-finals!
Looking at the last two seasons of Chelsea, one wonders whether their search for ‘sexy’ football was just. They have missed out on trophies, records have been busted, and three managers have been plonked. And at the end of it, they have neither played ‘sexy’ to say the least; the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona was a testament to this.
One wonders whether the effective style of playing football, which worked for them should have been continued instead of the charismatic, eye-catching ‘sexy’ football, which never happened.
Perhaps, Abramovich’s search for ‘sexy’ football can be compared to ‘Waiting for Godot’...
Rahul Bali.
Ever since the Roman Abramovich era began back in 2003, Chelsea have never finished third in the Premier League, an astounding seven points adrift Manchester United. The Russian billionaire wanted trophies at Stamford Bridge and that has happened only during the Jose Mourinho era.
The now former Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri was dumped following the 2003 season for guiding the Pensioners to a second place finish and a Champions League semi-final. ‘The Special One’ made his foray on the English soil.
Under the Portuguese tactician, Chelsea won the Carling Cup and their first Premiership title. The club was unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League semis by a Luis Garcia “ghost goal”. The following season, Chelsea continued their success as they won their second successive Premiership but, were ousted in the round of 16 by eventual winners Barcelona.
In the 2006-07 season, Chelsea were once again sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals by Liverpool and they couldn’t retain their Premiership crown. Carling Cup and FA Cup were the two trophies the club had to brag about. However, following the apparent ‘mutual consent’ with Chelsea management, Jose Mourinho left the English club with an unknown Israeli by the name of Avram Grant taking over.
Abramovich and company wanted Chelsea to become a force to reckon with in the football world and have all the flair but, while Mourinho served the first but the second was missing as he employed an effective way of playing the game.
‘Sexy’ football involves use of width, sudden burst of pace, short passing game, movement and most importantly, in a very fluid system which then creates the necessary space needed to score. There is an opinion, however, that Barcelona are able to successfully employ this system as in La Liga, as the players aren’t very often closed down as in the Premiership, which is considered a physical league. This is probably what Stoke City coach Gerry Francis meant when he spoke of his doubts about Barcelona winning the Premier League with their brand of football.
Coming back to Chelsea and it looked like Grant was to bring in the ‘sexy’ revolution especially after the 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City. But that soon faded and Chelsea ended the season being the ‘almost’ side in the Carling Cup, Premier League and most importantly, in the Champions League.
It was Chelsea’s first trophy less season after three successful seasons, though the consistency levels were maintained by Grant.
Enter the Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari, and it seemed the ‘sexy’ football had come with him. The full-backs were more involved in the game and the club looked intent on scoring goals even when winning by a 1-0 or a 2-0 margin. Under him, the club’s 86 game unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge ended with a 1-0 loss to Liverpool and the reputation of ‘the Bridge being unconquerable’ had diminished.
Once again, there was a change and this time, came a man for the rescue act. Guus Hiddink has done a fine job in taking the club to a ‘now’ respectable third spot as under Scolari, it seemed that the club might eventually go further down. They ‘almost’ reached the finals of the Champions League and according to the Blues faithful, it was the referee Tom Ovrebo’s decisions which cost them.
Chelsea haven’t played very attractive football under Hiddink and were criticized by several media and Barcelona players, of being too negative in their approach at the Camp Nou 0-0 draw. It was branded ‘negative’ football by many. However, many felt that it was the right tactic against a free flowing Barcelona side. They called it the ‘pragmatic’ attitude of Hiddink, which ‘almost’ but worked for them.
Several players have voiced their frustration, including skipper John Terry, at not winning a trophy for almost two seasons. The only chance of redeeming themselves would be to win the FA Cup against Everton at Wembley. However, the only Premiership side they faced on their way to the finals was Arsenal in the semi-finals!
Looking at the last two seasons of Chelsea, one wonders whether their search for ‘sexy’ football was just. They have missed out on trophies, records have been busted, and three managers have been plonked. And at the end of it, they have neither played ‘sexy’ to say the least; the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona was a testament to this.
One wonders whether the effective style of playing football, which worked for them should have been continued instead of the charismatic, eye-catching ‘sexy’ football, which never happened.
Perhaps, Abramovich’s search for ‘sexy’ football can be compared to ‘Waiting for Godot’...
Rahul Bali.
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