Abramovich or Berlusconi - footballs worst sugar daddy

Rafa Benitez endured a less than hospitable welcome to Stamford Bridge at the weekend and the decision by hierarchy to explicitly call him out as the "interim first team coach" won't endure him to Chelsea fans any time soon. 

Trizia Fiorellino, chair of Chelsea Supporters' Group, has bizarrely maintained that the crowd will continue to boo Benitez for the rest of the season, obviously a psychic and a spokeswoman. After the 0-0 draw on Sunday, Fiorellino added that: “The fans don't expect to pick and choose the managers but it was pretty evident there were only two people that were not acceptable in this case - Benitez and Avram Grant.”

It is ironic that Chelsea fans are unable to look past a throwaway comment made in 2007 about fans waving flags, when their fans are quite happy to boo one man for daring to report racial abuse and maintaining unwavering support for the man found guilty of such an offence by the Football Association.

To borrow a phrase from the 52-year-old: Rafa Benitez is a better tactician than Roberto Di Matteo. Fact.

Chelsea fans who are unable to appreciate the two league titles won by Valencia, an extraordinary Champions League win and a dramatic FA Cup in 2006 are blinkered. Di Matteo transformed AVB’s squad into the side that defended their way to glory in Munich and lucked out against a poor Liverpool side at Wembley, but this is a man who was sacked by West Brom the previous season.

Getting a team to park the bus, as Chelsea effectively did in their run to the Champions League final, requires very little tactical nous. Chelsea failed to even defend effectively; Napoli squandered several chances before being eliminated and penalties were conceded to both Bayern and Barcelona that would have swung the ties in their favour if converted.

Di Matteo being moved on after barely a handful of disappointing results should be no surprise to Chelsea fans. That Abramovich did so after a result that effectively eliminated the defending Champions League holders at the group stages, was a more surprising decision. Surely it would have made sense to bring a new man in when their progression was still in their hands?

Chelsea fans might protest at the predisposition to chop and change managers, but Abramovich has bought success to the club, winning their first league title for 40 years.

Those who criticize the Russian should take note of another billionaire sugar daddy, who owns an equally elite football club, Silvio Berlusconi at AC Milan.

Despite a one year jail sentence hanging over the retired Italian Prime Minister, his involvement with Milan has increased over the last two weeks, and accordingly results have picked up for the 2011 scudetto winners.

His helicopter visits to Milanello, Milan's training ground, have increased in frequency following the Rossoneri’s alarming slump towards the bottom of Serie A and some indifferent performances in Europe. An intervention last week included recommending that top scorer and Italian sensation Stephan El Shaarawy have a haircut, prior to a crucial game against Anderlecht, which was subsequently won 3-1 (El Shaarawy scoring the opener).

Keen to improve the clubs domestic form the 76-year-old media tycoon then paid a visit to the players last week with a number of suggestions. Most noticeably was the claim that he wanted to replace Massimo Allegri with Pep Guardiola, should the opportunity arise, and that this possibility had even been mooted to the current manager.

"Guardiola? Who wouldn't want him? We have even spoken about it with Allegri," Berlusconi said. "If [appointing Guardiola] was possible we would look into it. Anyone would try to do so if they were presented with such an opportunity … For now we have Allegri. [But] for the future we are having a look."

Abramovich is clearly infatuated with the idea of ‘Barcelona in blue shirts’ and Guardiola taking charge at Stamford Bridge, but even the oil oligarch has stopped short of discussing the idea with a existing manager.

Berlusconi is keen to take a hands on approach at Milan and was insistent that Kevin-Prince Boateng be deployed as a false nine against Juventus at the weekend. Under such pressure Allegri was in no position to resist and the Ghanaian was positioned at the front of a 4-3-3, interchanging with Robinho during the scrappy 1-0 victory, some rebellion from the manager at least.

Further form includes advising Milan forward Alexandre Pato that unless he stops getting injured he'll be sold and also requesting that Allegri combed his hair before media duties. 

Both Berlusconi and Abramovich have enjoyed morally dubious careers outside of football. Abramovich started by smuggling contraband goods, before purchasing Sibneft for $100 million. The Russian clearly bought the oil company at below its market value, as the company was sold to Gazprom for $13 billion in 2005 and has dined out on this capital since.

Berlusconi has courted controversy for decade: whispers of Mafia links refuse to stick, being sentenced to four years in jail for tax fraud, monopolising press freedom in Italy and allegations of sex with a minor in the ‘bunga bunga’ scandal.

Both men have lavished millions on their football clubs and bought varying levels of success with them. Chelsea fans who are unhappy with Roman Abramovich should take note of the crisis unfolding in the red half of Milan. They might be better off with their Russian billionaire. 

Serie A preview

Vincenzo Montella, manager of Fiorentina

Italian football rumbles into action this weekend, with the Supercoppa Italiana taking place on Saturday, the game exported to the Bird's Nest stadium for the third time. Juventus take on Napoli in the Serie A curtain-raiser and interest will be high after Italy's excellent showing in Euro 2012.

Juventus completed an unbeaten season last year, and despite drawing 15 games they conceded just 20 goals all year, which saw them edge home ahead of the more volatile AC Milan who were four points away. As well as a resolute defence the midfield three of Pirlo, Marchisio and Vidal were key to the title for the bianconeri. Pirlo was magnificent in the deep playmaking role and Vidal and Marchisio had the energy to press extremely high-up, giving Pirlo time and space.

They have moved quickly this summer, signing Lucio from Inter on a free and adding Udinese's best midfielders; Mauricio Isla and Kwado Asamoah. Paul Pogba finally made the switch from Old Trafford and with Robin Van Persie heavily linked with a switch, Juventus look in best shape to defend their 28th scudetto (30th if you ask the club).

AC Milan have taken the biggest hit this summer, losing Thiago Silva and the league's top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG. Sold for a combined €60 million it remains to be seen how Massimo Allegri reinvests in his playing squad, if sanctioned by Berlusconi. Milan have already brought in Ricardo Montolivo, excellent business on a free, Bakaye Traore and Columbian, Christian Zapata, from Villerreal. However, none of these signings look like exciting the Milan faithful, and fans will be looking for a star striker to replace the outgoing Ibrahimovic. Carlos Tevez and Van Persie look dead deals, so fans will hope that Pato can stay fit the coming season.

Udinese finished an impressive third last year, but after losing more key players, they will be relying on youngsters stepping up to the plate in 2012-2013. Giampaolo Pozzo's Udinese experiment reached English shores with his acquisition of Watford, adding to a portfolio that includes the Spanish side Granada, and the president has invested heavily in scouting at the Italian side. Two of the latest products from the scouting set-up, Isla and Asamoah, were sold this summer and the only star performer left is 34-year-old Antonio Di Natale. I think they'll struggle to make the Champions League in 2013.

Lazio finished fourth last season, and claimed Italy's first Europa League spot, after the league lost its fourth CL place via co-efficient. They did well to finish above fierce rivals Roma, who spent heavily, and Miroslav Klose adapted well to Italian football. They pipped Napoli to fourth by a single point, but you would expect Napoli to finish above them this season, without the added pressure of Champions League football. The departure of Ezequiel Lavezzi is a massive blow, but the Naples outfit have invested in youth and Chilean Eduardo Vargas will get his chance in the starting XI. Further reinforcements come in the shape of Valon Behrami and Alessandro Gamberini from Fiorentina, and bring real experience.

36-year-old Andrea Stramaccioni has been thrust into the deep-end with Internazionale, and the club seem unsure of how to overcome their Mourinho vacuum. The club have flopped since his departure for Madrid, and despite the core of that side still being around they have failed to threaten domestically, let alone continentally. Expensive flop, Diego Forlan, has been moved on, but the acquisitions this summer are relatively modest for a club that splashed a then world-record €48 million on Christian Vieri in 1999.

Handanovic has been brought in at goalkeeper, but with the experienced Julio Cesar already at the San Siro his addition seems superfluous. Matias Silvestre has signed on loan, and Rodrigio Palacio has come in, as has free-kick specialist, Freddy Guarin, after a loan move. Doubts remain over Wesley Sniejder's future, as do Chelsea target, Maicon. Inter seem stuck in a rut. Unwilling to splash the cash like their competitors, they need to move on an ageing squad but their rivals are moving away from them. Winning the inaugural Next Gen series indicates that there is some impressive young talent coming through the ranks but these teenagers are not ready to be thrust into Serie A action en masse.

The team to watch for me however, are Fiorentina. They finished a lowly 13th last season, in a year that will be remembered by armchair fans for then manager, Delio Rossi, attacking winger Adem Ljajic as he was substituted. Unsurprisingly the club dismissed Rossi, and bought in the relatively 'green' Vincenzo Montella. Nicknamed 'The Little Airplane' he had a fantastic playing career at Roma and after a caretaker role with the Rome side, he spent last year managing Catania. Montella steered the unfancied side to a 11th place finish, their highest finish in 10 years.

This led to Fiorentina making their move and the Viola have invested superbly this summer. The club lost the integral Ricardo Montolivo on a free, but have acted quickly to make dreams of a Champions League return a real possibility. Alberto Aquilani is a ready-made replacement for Montolivo, whilst the Chile international Matias Fernandez and Emilano Viviano have also come in. Fiorentina managed to raid relegated Villerreal for two of their most important players; Borja Valero and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Despite his failure to breakthrough at West Brom, Valero is one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe and the experienced Rodriguez is a superb replacement for Gamberini.

Gabriel Batistuta scored this for Fiorentina in a remarkable Champions League run in 1999-2000, but within two years the club were on the brink of bankruptcy, and had to be re-formed as Associazione Calcio Fiorentina e Florentia Viola in 2002, starting in the Serie C2. They have a history of giving young managers a chance, Roberto Mancini cut his teeth at Artemio Franchi, while current national team manager, Cesare Prandelli was manager for five years before taking the national post. Montella was a cult icon at Roma and I predict an impressive year for him and Fiorentina. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appreciation

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is like Marmite. Some people love the enigmatic Swede. And some people are wrong.

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the narcisstic thug/footballing god.

1. "It's true I don't know that much about Ligue 1, but Ligue 1 knows who I am."

2. "This has been a massive thing in the media, people chasing me in my home. This is not normal, I will chase them back."

3. “Then Guardiola started his philosopher thing. I was barely listening. Why would I? It was advanced bullshit about blood, sweat and tears, that kind of stuff.”

4. “It was the fault of David Trezeguet, who made me do one drink of vodka after another. I slept in the bathtub. Now I hold my vodka much better.”

5. “(Guardiola) was staring at me and I lost it. I thought ‘there is my enemy, scratching his bald head!’. I yelled to him: ‘You have no balls!’ and probably worse things than that.

“I added: ‘You are shitting yourself because of Jose Mourinho. You can go to hell!’ I was completely mad. I threw a box full of training gear across the room, it crashed to the floor and Pep said nothing, just put stuff back in the box. I’m not violent, but if I were Guardiola I would have been frightened.”

6. “An injured Zlatan is a pretty serious thing for any team.”

7. His response to being asked about the Pique picture (and gay rumours) "Come over to the crib with your sister, baby, and I'll show you who's gay!"

8. “First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again, and he went to buy a hot dog.”

9. (Answer to criticism from John Carew that Zlatan’s moves are pointless.)  “What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”

10. (After Sweden were eliminated from EURO 2012, but before his wonder goal) “I don’t five a shit who wins it, I’m going on holiday.”

11. “I was being too nice. I’ve done 325 kilometres an hour in my Porsche Turbo and left the cops eating my dust.”


12. (After being frozen out at Barca) “The Rosengard lads wanted to come down and smash the place up and of course that was nice of them, but it didn’t really seem right”

13. “I was the bicycle thief”

14. “Some idiot father in the team went round with a petition, ‘Zlatan must leave the club it said’. Ok I’d headbutted that dad’s son, but my manager tore it into pieces. He was a good bloke, Ake.”

15. (And finally here is one from Ibra’s agent Mino Raiola) “Now I think the people in Paris will have something else to see besides the Mona Lisa"