Amid all the welcome hoopla of a World Cup which has been, so far, largely good fun, this week my postbox delivered up a reminder that when it’s all over, we will return to the monied insanity that is domestic football. On Friday my 2018-19 Chelsea season ticket arrived, and with it questions about what it, actually, be good for. This year’s renewal date fell early in May, with two league games still to play plus a FA Cup Final, and with no idea what was going to happen to the manager, Antonio Conte. And there hasn't been any further news since.
The general consensus, all season long, was that Conte would be out this summer, with Napoli's Maurizio Sarri emerging as the primary candidate to replace him. Today, July 1st, there's still no clarity. Journalists have been speculating that something might be announced this week, but the silence from Chelsea has been deafening, apart from a couple of announcements about junior players (one loaned out, the other signing a new contract). Beneath the rumours, it has been assumed that Chelsea have just been taking their time to work out compensation packages for Conte (who stands to get £9 million) and releasing Sarri from Napoli (despite his role already being replaced by Carlo Ancelotti). Presumably, this is still going on.
But while that may be the headline story, the mood around Chelsea is, six weeks before the new season begins, iffy. Players don't know who they'll be playing for when they return from the World Cup or the beach, and even this week it was reported in the Evening Standard that the squad was totally in the dark as to when they were supposed to be reporting for duty for pre-season training...or who will be in charge of it.
Conte has been understandingly silent - he hasn't been seen since lifting the FA Cup at Wembley on May 19 - as has Sarri. Rumours have also swirled as to Gianfranco Zola becoming his No.2 (or not) and Michael Ballack filling the void opened up by Michael Emenalo resigning as Director of Football last year. And then we've had the likes of Eden Hazard dangling a Sword of Damacles over the club by suggesting that, unless it starts signing A-grade players soon, he’ll be off. For now, Hazard is busy with the World Cup, but it can't be long before he returns to thoughts of the day job. And, finally, there's the matter of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, who took over Chelsea fifteen years ago today. The apparent inertia at Stamford Bridge appears to have coincided with the oligarch being denied a visa, resulting in the club announcing that plans to rebuild the Bridge have been put on hold due to the UK's “investment climate”.
Much, then, depends on the managerial situation being sorted out. Officially, Conte is still in charge, and Chelsea are apparently relaxed about it all. However, us fans aren't. Chelsea's FA Cup win last season was consolation for what was otherwise a disappointing title defence. To be starting July without any signs of player replacements - presumably because the situation regarding the head coach is not resolved - means Chelsea go into the pre-season program and the Premier League's commencement with a mixture of players, some rested from the season, some not rested from World Cup duty, and no clarity on what their marching orders will be. Thankfully the World Cup continues to provide some welcome diversion, but if news does break of Sarri's appointment and Conte's removal, expectations will be high that preparation for a tough new season will begin in earnest...and will be effective. Right now, confidence in the Chelsea board to do the right thing is low.
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