Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by the club yesterday with the official corporate statement declaring that "this seasons performances have fallen short of expectations".
Left to squirm in his last ever post-match interview, Ancelotti himself appeared unaware of the decision that was coming his way, stating that he expected the decision around his future to take place over the coming days.
As it was, the axe fell within a few hours of the final game of the season. Abramovich left the task to Ron Gourlay, the chief executive, to finally put Ancelotti out of his misery by relieving him of his duties in the corridors of Goodison Park with immediate effect.
The decision had been on the horizon ever since Chelsea made a tame exit from the UEFA Champions League to Manchester United, which appears to be Abramovich's trophy of choice. Even if Chelsea had hauled in the reds to claim the Italian's second Premier League title it remains unlikely that his job would have been watertight.
Abramovich's decision to dispense with Ancelotti is especially puzzling, as Chelsea's form this season has largely been taken out of the 51-year-old hands. Senior players Deco, Ballack, Belletti, Joe Cole and Carvalho were allowed to leave in the summer, with only Ramires and Yossi Benayoun being bought in to invigorate an ageing squad.
How much of a say Ancelotti had in these transfers is debatable; and he admitted that the acquisitions of David Luiz and Fernando Torres in January this year were decided upon by the Russian billionaire upstairs. At £25 and £50 million respectively these constitute lavish gifts; but their form has been indifferent and the misfiring Torres severely handicapped the teams ability and his innclusion in the team seemed only to be further pandering to the owner.
Chelsea started this Premier League campaign in blistering form, with successive 6-0 wins against West brom and Wigan but interference from above led to the departure of Ray Wilkins in November. Wilkin's exit saw Chelsea's run come to an abrupt end and they failed to recover their early form arguably for the remainder of the season.
Ancelotti may not have had a stellar season with negativity seeping into some of his tactical approaches, but Abramovich's actions this season effectively pulled the rug from under the Italians feet, leaving him brutally exposed, with a squad selected by the Russian oil tycoon and Ancelotti unfairly left to bite the bullet when the team fell just short.
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