Mourinho's Exit : All Planned?

Jose Mourinho's departure from Chelsea is without doubt the biggest story in the world of football today. It came as a surprise to everybody but Roman Abramovich. The Chelsea supremo knew this was coming. Now looking back to it, I think it may have even been planned.

Who would want to sack a coach like Mourinho. A coach who brought five trophies in three seasons. A coach who handled mega stars in his club without any problem and a coach who had no problems with his staff. A coach who handled all media problems perfectly (even though he made a fool of himself at times). Mourinho was almost a perfect manager. A manager which any club board or club owner would like to have. But Abramovich had other ideas.

Abramovich was always a keen admirer of Frank Rijkaard. Reports once said that he was keen on bringing in Rijkaard as manager even before Mourinho. As Abramovich was impresses after Netherlands' Euro2000 performance. If Abramovich had to part ways with Mourinho, he would have done it at the end of last season when Chelsea finished with "just" the FA Cup and League Cup. But, Abramovich had no good replacement. All of Europe's top managers were with the big clubs and both Marcelo Lippi and Guus Hiddink said they did not want the job. Abramovich had no other manager in his list. He then brought in Avram Grant as Grant was supposed to bring out the best from Abramovich's new found love, Andriy Shevchenko.

But what really carved the way for Mourinho's departure except for the cold war with Abramovich was Henk Ten Cate's departure from Barcelona. Barcelona played "sluggish" football after Cate's departure and Rijkaard was supposedly getting the sack after not winning any trophy last season. But Joan Laporta backed Rijkaard and made him stay.

Cate will do a good job in getting Chelsea good results this season, but, Avram Grant is the manager and has the last say. Chelsea will recover very late to win the Premier League, and with the likes of Internazionale, Barcelona, Milan and even Real Madrid and Liverpool along with Arsenal and Manchester United, winning the Champions League is very far from easy. Grant should know that winning the FA Cup and League Cup will not reserve his seat for next season.

I think Abramovich had this in mind. If not early, then towards the end of last season. This may be the pathway to lure Rijkaard to Chelsea. Getting Rijkaard is not easy, but with the money Chelsea have and spend, nothing in football is impossible. And if Barca fail to win a trophy this season, then Laporta will make things easier for Chelsea. Ronaldinho may not follow Rijkaard but who knows? Chelsea can easily make him the highest earning footballer in the world by far. Abramovich may then get what he wanted, but yet, still, he will have to wait for atleast one very long and unsatisfying season.

Sacking the Special One or letting him leave by mutual content, is truly, an act of extreme stupidity.