Chelsea's Big Mistake

The enduring image of the much hyped first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge had nothing whatsoever to do with the action, or with the spirit of football. It was the sight of the mighty Didier Drogba as he slumped to the ground immediately in front of the technical area like a man felled by a sniper’s bullet, to be surrounded immediately by a fussing posse of Chelsea officials, ostentatiously directed by Jose Mourinho, in a scene that resembled the opening credits of M.A.S.H., but with infinitely more theatre and substantially less conviction. And after this cheap piece of melodrama had served its purpose, up popped a sprightly Drogba, miraculously ‘cured’ and ready to defend a free kick in the crowded Chelsea penalty area.

This contemptible little episode epitomises the shameful way in which Mourinho’s Chelsea has betrayed the unprecedented generosity of Abramovic’s multi-million investment, to cheat and deceive their way to trophies without feeling sufficient obligation to entertain the paying public or to set a proper example to impressionable youth by respecting the traditions of the game. And after they had carved out their precious narrow advantage over a disappointing Liverpool side, the Chelsea manager predictably littered a post-match interview with bitter complaints about yet another ‘penalty’ which he would have the more gullible viewers believe had been denied his team by some mysterious dark conspiracy.

But for those of us who are not gullible, enough is enough. Mourinho’s antics have taken us beyond patience and indulgence and through exasperation to the very limit of endurance. It’s now time for an end to all that superficial nonsense about ‘fresh air’ and ‘special ones’. Time to acknowledge that spectacles such as this serve only to tarnish the image of the game and bring it into disrepute. Time to recognise that in spite of the unrelenting tedium of the little Portuguese interpreter’s interminable spin, Chelsea are not a big club, because big clubs – clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal – have proud traditions and a history of achievement, rather than a couple of years of dubious material success ground out in a small minded way with a great deal of sound and fury but scant regard for principles or integrity. And Mr Abramovic deserves far more for his money than that.