Abramovich takes advice from business associate Eugene Shvidler, from Chelsea directors such as Eugene Tenenbaum and director of football Michael Emenalo, and key agents such as Vlado Lemic but, in the end, he always acts on instinct.
The bottom line with Roberto Di Matteo is that Abramovich has never been wholly convinced that he is the right man to coach Chelsea and mould the team in the flamboyant way in which he dreams they will play. Abramovich was unsure of appointing the Italian as interim head coach when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked last March, initially dallying with the notion of employing Rafael Benítez, who he perceived as a disciplinarian, on a short-term basis.
He certainly never expected Di Matteo to win the Champions League and earn a contract. But Abramovich was persuaded to go with Di Matteo, partly because of his record at the club as a player and the esteem with which he was held in by the supporters and players. The other option had been Gianfranco Zola.
It may now be a permanent two-year deal (with a break clause next summer) but Di Matteo has never shaken off the interim tag. Even now.
The first two questions after that incredible Champions League triumph in Munich were did Di Matteo expect to stay on, and what was the future for the man who scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out, Didier Drogba?
It really should not be like that on such an occasion.
Source: telegraph
