“Sometimes there are managers who are not good enough for some groups.”

“But there are also some groups (of players) who are not good enough for the manager. In this case it is the second.”

These were the words of Paolo Di Canio when giving an interview about his time as Sunderland manager.  At first I couldn’t believe I had heard him correctly but then I guess humility has never been his forte.  Also everyone is entitled to ‘their own reality’.

It did get me thinking again about the subject of my last post, Juan Mata.  I guess in Mata’s mind it was the new manager who failed him as a player.  Just in the last half hour the blue Spaniard has been confirmed as a ‘Red’.  He said he couldn’t refuse an offer from a club as great as Manchester United (I don’t feel comfortable mentioning this but I can’t help thinking the Moyes Manchester United is a completely different beast to the Fergie United – I think Mata may find himself hostage to the myth that was Manchester United). I assume the club has guaranteed him much needed game time, which is imperative in order to earn his place in the Spanish National team for the World Cup this Summer.  I do feel a little sad at how everything has turned out for the Spanish playmaker – the internet is flooded with messages and videos from heart broken Blues who feel bereaved by Mata’s move up to Manchester.  Watching some of the videos of his best moments as a Chelsea player, I too found myself welling up…. I just wish he had respected the Club enough not to move to one of their main rivals – but I guess his ‘reality’ was that Chelsea had not shown him the respect he had deserved in the last six months.  Anyway I don’t want to get wrapped up in ‘rights and wrongs’, but I do wish Mata all the best for his future and am sure we will be witnessing the little magician doing what he does best in no time at all.

It seems an appropriate time to welcome the imminent arrival of Mohamed Salah, the 21 year old Egyptian midfielder from Swiss Champions Basel.  I am assuming his transfer will complete without any complications (in the guise of Brendan Rodgers!).  Salah is a talented player who has scored against Chelsea in their last three meetings with Basel.  I feel confident he will be a worthy replacement for Juan Mata and that the club is more than capable of handling any political challenges which may arise from Salah’s signing.

“Eto’o is now E’three”, I heard a fan shouting behind me as Samuel Eto’o entered history books by scoring a hat-trick against Manchester United last Sunday afternoon at the Bridge.  I was privileged to witness our 3-1 victory over the troubled Manchester side.  Chelsea started the game slowly.  I don't think going into half time with a 2-0 lead was a true reflection of the game, but in the second half the blues dominated and the final score was well deserved.  I feel compelled to mention the barbaric tackle made on Gary Cahill by Raphael, which only drew a yellow card from the ref who had already rashly red carded a frustrated Nemanja Vidic.  It does seem that Premiership referees are making more and more mistakes in response to the ever increasing pressures of the job. Anyway I can’t complain, the final result was great (it would have been a little better had Petr Cech kept yet another clean sheet which was denied him by our nemesis, Chicharito - who always scores against  us)!  Not only did Mourinho keep his unbeaten home record in the Premier League, but the win over Moyes' men marked Jose Mourinho’s 100^th win in the Premiership, setting a new record when he reached the landmark in double quick time – it took him 142 games, 20 less than Sir Alex Ferguson.  In fairness to Manchester United, they were missing Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie through injury but the team as a whole looked lacking in confidence.  Morale was low.
 

This lack of belief displayed by David Moyes' Manchester United became even more obvious in their midweek Capital one second leg semi-final against Sunderland.  I don’t have time to discuss the game properly as there is so much to say – if you get a chance at least try to watch the second half of extra time followed by the penalty shoot- out…. The pundits are hailing it as the worst penalty shoot-out of all time.  What is more alarming is that we are pinning our World Cup hopes on some of the players involved in this infamously horrendous display. (Note to Paolo Di Canio: the Black Cats were good enough to beat Manchester United with Gus Poyet at the helm....)

Well maybe the arrival of Mata will help boost morale at Old Trafford (and take some weight off the young shoulders of Adnan Januzaj, who has been carrying the team).  After all the arrival of Mesut Ozil did wonders for Arsene Wenger’s then faltering Arsenal.  It could go either way I think – depending on whether Mata’s acquisition was merely an act of desperation by a failing manager of a club in crisis, or a canny and considered move to bring in a needed playmaker who the club feels will fit into their ethos.  I tend to think the former to be the case, which could mean that the one-man rescue mission may fail but it is football after all so you can always expect the unexpected.

(I used to like M&M's till I saw this photo!!)

I am off to the Bridge again tomorrow for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup against Stoke.  I am again ever hopeful of a win.  (It worked last week!!)