Under the stewardship of the Oligarch tycoon, Chelsea witnessed the most successful tenure of its history, much to the envy of traditional powerhouses of English as well as European football. Abramovich’s Russian money led Chelsea to multiple premier leagues, Domestic cups, Europa leagues, and the pinnacle of his crown, the two champions leagues. Despite the 2021 champions league success, the Londoners have failed to muster a challenge to compete for the pinnacle of the premier league since winning it last in 2016-17 under Antonio Conte. Thus, emphasizing an intriguing enigma, did Roman eventually stagnate the club in the long run, depriving the blues of lasting success and legacy?
When Roman splurged his cash for Chelsea in 2003, they almost became competitive instantly. In his second year, Chelsea won the premier league under Jose and successfully defended their title the next season. Over the duration of his ownership, Chelsea won 21 titles., despite the accomplishment, it was transparent that Chelsea in the recent seasons under Roman was struggling to challenge for the Premier League and failed to compete with the elites of Europe, except for 2021. Although they continue to win trophies, the last time the club won multiple trophies in a single season was in 2014-15 under Jose Mourinho. The premier League represented the starkest decline in Chelsea’s recent fortunes highlighted by the statistic, that Chelsea since the season 2016-17, have failed to mount a serious contest with them mostly finishing between 3rd and place and 5th place.
The deterioration is underlined by the difference in the points gap between Chelsea and the League winner of every season since 2017-18. The minimum difference has been 19 points in 2020-21 as to an extraordinary 33 points in the 2019-20 season under Super Frank. Thus, depicting the club’s inability to compete for the last 6 premier league seasons. The decline to put it mildly could be described by the Phenomena of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. With them both entering the premier league in 2015 and 2016 respectively, thus the standard of the league’s peak was elevated by several levels. Before the appointments of Jurgen and Pep, Chelsea held the record of obtaining record points in the table with Conte 2nd at 93 in 2016-17, and Jose at the summit with 95 in his first season. From the season since 2017-18, the average points for the premier league champion have been 95, in essence, the 93 that Chelsea obtained under Conte which was a record back, would have only secured Chelsea one title in the last 6 seasons.
Numerous aspects in play led to the seismic elevation in the standard of the competition, especially the duopoly of Man City and Liverpool. The noticeable factor was Chelsea’s failure to establish a managerial dynasty of its own under the two decades of Roman's rule. In the post-Conte era of the League, Liverpool, and Manchester City have consolidated power in the league leaving the rest of the pack miles behind except for Arsenal this season. This for Roman was an inimitable approach to winning the league, a method revolving around gradual improvement, rather than instant success, relying on patience and backing the manager. The approach is in stark contrast to Chelsea’s Galactico impression which led to the meteoric success under Roman. Although Roman’s short-term method of splashing the cash coincided with the hire and fire of a manager for short-term ripped-its rewards. With the evolution of football, this style appears to have dwindled in its efficiency. Thus, Triggering the notion that Roman had stagnated Chelsea with him fixated on his short-term approach and inability to evolve.
Both Man City and Liverpool have splashed the cash to achieve their success, however, their structure has stressed the progression within English and on a larger scale European football. Money by itself cannot guarantee success, expenditure coinciding with a long-term project with a foundation is what is required. The new ownership at Chelsea led by Todd Boehly seemed to have realized the rewards of this approach. Since the takeover, the consortium has invested extravagantly alongside implementing a long-term structure and infrastructure. With the Appointment of Graham Potter, who can be classified as a procedural coach, it appears that Chelsea is keen to replicate the structures of Liverpool and Man City. Surely this would result in Chelsea not being successful instantly, as of now they appear far from it. Surely though this has to be the approach if they are to again compete for the Premier League.
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