Roman Abramovich risked a backlash from supporters and six months of intrigue by appointing Rafael Benítez as interim manager until the end of the season, leaving the way clear for the appointment of Pep Guardiola in the summer.
The former Liverpool
manager will start work at Chelsea
on Thursday after being installed as the short-term successor to Roberto Di
Matteo in perhaps the most remarkable appointment of Abramovich’s nine-year
reign at Stamford Bridge.
Benítez, who established himself as a hate figure at Stamford Bridge during
six seasons at Anfield marked by intense rivalry between the clubs, boarded
a flight in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night having agreed the deal, and will
meet the Chelsea squad at Cobham on Thursday morning.
The appointment, which was greeted with vocal objections from Chelsea
supporters groups, comes after Abramovich tried and failed to persuade
Guardiola to cut short his one-year sabbatical and succeed Di Matteo, fired
after the 3-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin. Guardiola is enjoying a break
from the game in New York
Di Matteo
Di Matteo
Instead Abramovich turned to Benítez, already selected as his fallback
position, to try to steady Chelsea’s recent wobble and ensure that the club
do not miss out on Champions
League football next season.
Six months and a day after he led Chelsea to the Champions League in Munich,
Di Matteo cleared his desk at Cobham at 4am on Wednesday after being
informed by chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Ron Gourlay that
Abramovich’s patience had run out.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League and FA Cup in eight months in charge,
is expected to continue receiving his salary until he takes a new job,
stretching Chelsea’s compensation to the eight managers sacked in
Abramovich’s nine-year tenure to more than £70 million.
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