If thereโs a commonality between Manchester Cityโs FA Cup failure and Chelseaโs Europa League success, itโs the empty, futile call to support managers who clearly not longer (or never did) fit their clubs โ the appeal for stability in the wake of modest accomplishment, an argument that rest more on nostalgia than the realities of the modern soccer world.
When news broke of Roberto Manciniโs impending dismissal at City, the general reaction was surprise that a man, one year removed from winning a Premier League title, were to be let go. Manchester City needed stability, the chorus sang as Txiki Begiristain affixed the brooches. And with Rafa Benรญtez, the addition of another major trophy has already lead to main stream coverageโs reflections on whether the former Liverpool man has earned the permanent job at Stamford Bridge.
Thereโs a strange element of contrarianism in both these views, as on the surface, it seems pretty clear why both Chelsea and City would be willing to move on. Or, put another way, itโs unclear why either Mancini or Benรญtez would be good bets to meet their clubsโ 2013-14 ambitions, whether you judge their capabilities on current or historic results. Going back to Inter, Manciniโs results have always been those of a well-supported man who can win when things when fortune broke his way. Benรญtez, at both Valencia and Liverpool, proved capable of challenging for big things, but heโs so far removed from those accomplishments, itโs almost as if the current visage is completely different coach โ an insecure performer unable to adapt after a crowd figures out his only trick.
The commonality between the pro-Mancini and pro-Benรญtez views is an inability to come to grips with modern-day soccer โ a state of play in which, much to the chagrin of many who follow the game, players, managers, and executives are held to a standard commensurate with the outlay of their owners. Perhaps supporters of Benรญtez and Mancini see a world where absolute accomplishments are sufficient, in which case a second place Premier League finish and a Europa League trophy are good enough for any manager. But Sheikh Mansour didnโt this so much money into City to see the Citizens fail to threaten Manchester United. And Roman Abramovichโs ambitions need no explanation. Their managers will always be evaluated relative to their ownersโ ambitions, and in that respect, thereโs little wonder why Manuel Pellegrini will be hired by City, just as Josรฉ Mourinho will rejoin Chelsea.
At some point, people who follow (and cover) Chelsea, City โ or, for that matter, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, or any team who can keep up with the worldโs other huge spenders โ need to adjust their world views. When youโre spending enough to have one of the most talent teams in the world, itโs nowhere near good enough when your team doesnโt perform to that level. โWhy didnโt you compete for the league title? Why didnโt you go better in Europe?โ If there arenโt good answers to these questions, youโre likely gone.
And rightfully so. Itโs not that you need to win everything. No ownerโs that naรฏve. But you need to have the squad performing to its capabilities. You need to have trophies taken from you, not given them away. So when Cityโs boardroom sees their squad never threaten Manchester United, or Abramovich sees his team fighting to stay in the top four rather than threatening for first, they canโt help but wonder: Could somebody else do better?
Pellegrini? He probably can. Mourinho? Heโs proven he will.
But this isnโt about comparing managers or the tough decisions boardrooms have to make. Itโs about the narratives sounding these managers. The reality is that both Benรญtez and Mancini, despite their accomplishments at their jobs, have failed to get their immense talent to perform commensurate with expectations. They knew the expectations doing into their jobs, and as they Eastland and Stamford Bridge, their heart of heart will know theyโve failed to meet their chairmansโ goals. And just as acutely, theyโll know other coaches with better resumes are ready to take over their jobs.
If they want, pundits can go on and on about stability and the need to give a manager time, but Pep Guardiola won Champions League in his first season at Barรงa. Mourinho won in his second year at Inter. Roberto Di Matteo was an interim when he won Champions League, and Jupp Heynckes is only in his second season at Bayern.
At some point, everybody needs to accept the realities of the modern world are not motivated by nostalgia. If Iโm paying for a title contender and you say you can give it to me, youโre damn right youโre going to be fired if you come up short.
