Only Euro glory can stop Roman Abramovich from wielding axe

Telling moment: Ji-Sung Park scores, Chelsea are on their way out of Europe and Carlo Ancelotti is on his way out of Stamford Bridge
11 April 2012

The next manager at Chelsea should be clear about one thing: win the Champions League or you are out.

Domestic success is nice and all but Roman Abramovich is still clearly only interested in ruling Europe and there are dire consequences if a coach doesn't succeed.

How else can you explain the ruthless nature of Carlo Ancelotti's departure, which was quick even by Chelsea's standards?

A year on from becoming the first Chelsea boss to win the Double, Ancelotti was told by chief executive Ron Gourlay that he was longer required in a tiny tunnel at Goodison Park, less than an hour after the final match of the season.

Of course, Abramovich's trigger-happy policy when it comes to hiring and firing coaches since he bought the club in 2003 is flawed. Ancelotti is the sixth coach he has employed in that time and the Champions League trophy continues to elude him. It means no one, especially the man in charge, should be surprised about the sight of a P45 if Chelsea fail to lift the cup with 'the big ears' and certainly serve as a warning to any of the candidates who are now being linked with the post of the dangers of playing Russian roulette in SW6.

The fact Manchester United will be rewarded for their faith in Sir Alex Ferguson over the past 25 years with a fourth appearance in a Champions League Final since 1999 at Wembley on Saturday won't register with Abramovich.

He isn't interested in stability, just instant results, which is why in many ways it is hard to feel too much sympathy with Ancelotti.

When the former Italy international met with him for talks while still in charge of AC Milan three years ago, he was left in no doubt what was expected should he agree to take charge at Stamford Bridge.

Both Ancelotti and his many supporters will argue that winning the Double should have bought him more time. In Abramovich's view, though, it already had because he was given a second chance to succeed in Europe this term. It seems to have been forgotten that just a few months before Chelsea paraded the Premier League and FA Cup trophies amid great scenes on the Fulham Road last May, crisis meetings had been held at the training ground following their disappointing defeat by Inter Milan in the last 16 of the competition.

Abramovich already had his doubts back then but gave the manager a stay of execution following the club's late surge to silverware. There was to be no forgiveness, though, if he masterminded another early exit this season.

People will point to the fact that reaching the quarter-finals is not a bad achievement but to get there they had to get past MSK Zilina, Marseille and Spartak Moscow in the group stages before taking on lowly FC Copenhagen in the last 16.

After losing both legs to top class opposition in Inter last year, they were beaten home and away by United in the last eight this time. Ancelotti may have been popular with the players but tactically he seemed unable to get the best out of them.

The Italian's fate was sealed when his team fell short against the same opponents in an unexpected title decider just two weeks ago.

The hierarchy should take some responsibility for the club's inability to challenge for trophies on all four fronts this term having made the squad weaker last summer by allowing five senior players to leave without replacing them properly.

When injuries hit key personnel, the team were found wanting and the manner in which assistant manager Ray Wilkins was fired in November also had a destabilising effect.

However, to add to the ignominy of falling so far short in Europe, Ancelotti also took the club to their lowest points total in the Premier League of the Abramovich era.

It may have been good enough to still finish second but it couldn't stop Abramovich from thinking his manager was second rate.

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