There is an abbreviation sweeping the football world - ABC. No, it's not a literacy scheme for the Premiership's overpaid, under-educated divas; it's a phenomenon known as Anything But Chelsea.
ABC expresses itself in the most unlikely realignment of tribal loyalties. For example, over the next couple of weeks we will see fans who have spent a lifetime loathing Manchester United - traditionally the most hated club in England, and very possibly the World - desperately hoping that they off the Premiership/FA Cup double. Why? Easy. ABC.
How can we explain this? After all, Chelsea and Manchester Unitied have so much in common - money, ego-crazed managers, an effortless sense of superiority, foreign billionaires at the helm, and the determination to become the world's number one sporting franchise.
But there are crucial differences. While United play dazzling football and score lots of goals, Chelsea win in an ugly way. While United's success has been founded on a nucleus of home-grown players, Chelsea have no brought a local up through the ranks in aeons.
Perhaps the reason we most hate Chelsea is that they think money gives them the right to win everything. A few weeks ago the club were still in with the chance of winning an unprecedented four trophies, but they felt rattled enough to issue following statement: "We will not sack Jose Mourinho," announced chief executive Peter Kenyon, as if granting a royal pardon. Brilliant.
On Wednesday, Marketing magazine will controversially reveal that Chelsea still have some catching up to do on United - according to its annual survey of brands we love and hate, Manchester United is the seventh most hated brand in the world, whereas Chelsea is only 29th (up from 72).
But to truly understand ABC, we must measure how much both clubs are hated against how much they are loved. Whilst 34.3% name United as their most hated team, a mere 22.4% loathe Chelsea. Significantly, United are also the most loved team, with 23.7% while Chelsea have a paltry 9.1%. Hated by many, loved by few - this pretty much explains the ABC phenomenon.
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wanted to post this at "All Football & EPL"
but i think its safer here
ABC....