HE has got the £130million yacht with two swimming pools, two helipads and a submarine. He has the 440-acre estate in West Sussex, the flat in Belgravia and the £28m six-storey mansion in Kensington. He has the £1m bomb-proof Maybach 62 limo. And he traded in one older model — his wife Irina — for a younger one, a raven-haired beauty of 22.But the one thing Roman Abramovich’s billions can’t buy is the Beautiful Game. He first fell in love with the sport on a memorable night at Old Trafford in April 2003, when Real Madrid’s Ronaldo received a standing ovation after a 59-minute Champions League hat-trick.
On the pitch were other global stars like Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Veron, Beckham, Keane, Van Nistelrooy and Giggs. Enough to turn anyone’s head. So the Russian bought Chelsea, poured £350m into the project and entrusted his dream to Jose Mourinho.
Success was immediate: back-to-back titles, something a football institution like Arsenal had not managed since the Thirties. But, then, the lustre started to fade. Though supremely well-organised and hard to beat, his side would not play the way he wanted. So he and his associates moved in.
It all came to a head at Villa Park 19 days ago, when Abramovich stormed out of his seat. The body language said it all. Further pressure was applied by Peter Kenyon saying Abramovich wanted two Champions League crowns in six years — and do it the right way, Jose.
Then on Tuesday we came to the depths of the 1-1 Champions League draw with Rosenborg watched by 24,973 — just 2,000 more than turned up at The Valley for Charlton versus Norwich. It is claimed Red Rom spoke afterwards for 20 minutes with Sheva, asking where it had gone wrong.
The dark clouds became tinged with lightning when Abramovich heard of a row between Mourinho and John Terry — the manager concerned about his skipper’s form, even seeking a possible explanation from the club’s medical team. A day later, the Chelsea board met to discuss the causes — and ramifications — of the meagre Euro turn-out.
The greatest irony was that it took place just as a young, vibrant Arsenal side were thrashing Seville 3-0 in front of 60,000 ecstatic fans — paying even higher prices than Chelsea supporters. A team, patiently assembled at a fraction of the cost lavished on Chelsea, playing exactly the sort of attacking, entertaining football that Abramovich had always dreamed of.
So now the switchback ride is over. Mourinho will take a time-out before what many believe will be an inevitable return to football in Italy.
