If there is nothing rational in loyalty to the club, then in the anger that feeds on teams from cities where we have never been to people whom we have never seen, the voice of reason is just as mute.
In the 70s, when I was a schoolboy, the names of Revie, Sprake, Renee, Charlton, Madely, Cooper (the head coach and Leeds stars of the 60-70s - approx. “Sport today” ) were despised by everyone without exception outside of West Yorkshire . Leeds in those days was the epitome of brutal efficiency, an unparalleled class and breathtaking arrogance. After he mercilessly torn “Southampton” 7-0, we could not help but admire the skill of his players, but their hatred increased by an order of magnitude. Envy prevailed over everyone. That is why the country so enthusiastically took the sensational victory over them, “Sunderland” in the FA Cup final in 1973. “Leeds” did not like, despite the fact that it was a great team.
Life goes on in a spiral, thirty years later, a new generation of schoolchildren has the same feelings for Chelsea Jose Mourinho, a team that closely resembles Leeds Don Revy.
I became a regular at Stamford Bridge, watching the team “spiritually impoverished”, “undermining the foundations of the game with the siphoned off muscles of their financing”, which is based on “vile and arrogant personalities that do not set a good example for the younger generation” (according to my friends and colleagues) .
The irony of fate: just three years ago Chelsea were not their favorite club in England. Fans and the press were fascinated by the intelligent Claudio Ranieri, the appearance of Juan Sebastian Verona and the access to the semi-finals of the Champions League in a game worthy of the retirement home team.
Chelsea were not afraid. So the big guys could enjoy his success in Europe and concentrate on the championship medals.
"Stand in front of the champions!" - have been chanting for Old Trafford and Highbury for years. When was the last time you heard “Stand in front of the silver medalists who reached the UEFA Cup finals after flying out of the Champions League group”?
The arrival of Roman Abramovich turned Chelsea from a club that never posed a threat to the monopolies of Manchester United and Arsenal into a club that circumvented them. The arrival of Mourinho turned the Chelsea players into a perfectly defensive vehicle with features that Sir Alex Ferguson had instilled in his ward for Old Trafford. The players acted together as one big mechanism, which, in fairness, crumbled due to injuries to key players.
It was worth seeing how the people sitting in the bar at the Kempton Park Racecourse on Boxing Day ( December 26, when King George VI's horse racing is traditionally held - approx. “Sport Today” ) , were torn between the spectacle outside and the broadcast of the Chelsea - Reading "inside. Own goal Michael Essien was met with joy so stormy that it would be more suitable for the marriage of members of the royal family. A man in a Newcastle T-shirt thrashed his hands through the air, and then on the arms of his friends, shouting that "this will teach the bastards," because "they all hate ... ...."
There is something irrational in that surge of negative emotions that we have experienced with Leeds in the past. Why, from a logical point of view, can we hate the team of Terry and Lampard’s iron will, Robben’s invention, Essien’s charge, or Joe Cole’s insolence? Even if Didier Drogba sometimes behaves like a kindergartener, is there a team that will refuse his services? Did they cheat and cheat? No more than everyone else. Are they paid more than others? But this situation is not unique to Chelsea.
On the other hand, they have fighting qualities and fortitude, which others can only dream of. That does not buy for any money.
You can buy a bunch of overvalued mediocrity, but then people who pay to watch their game will be dissatisfied. And this will affect the image of the person responsible for the purchase. If you prove that the fate of Abramovich is just a combination of dubious circumstances, you can safely throw something heavy at him. In the meantime, share your poison in fairness among all the millionaires who sorted out the Premier League football toys.
Peter Kenyon loves loud statements about the future of the club, but this is unlikely to distinguish him from the rest of the executive directors. Mourinho carries a nonsense and is often gloomy - and which coach is not? He just needs to smile more, like on the day of his first arrival, when he instantly captivated a million female hearts. The biggest complaint of the fans to Chelsea is that the team does not play like Wenger's Arsenal. With such a bright talent, the team is extremely effective, but does not demonstrate a bright game and empty seats in away matches are an indicator of public opinion.
However, wasn’t this what we reproached Leeds for? Looking back at the past years, we who lived outside of West Yorkshire were too strict for the Don team. Was Eddie Gray brilliant? Didn’t we like Peter Lorimer’s cannon shots? And the execution and tactical genius of Johnny Giles? And the tenacity of Billy Bremner?
They just won. Here's what we didn't like.
A day at the Stamford Bridge stand in 2007 is not a luxurious evening in the midst of sushi bars, elite Italian brands and Russian oligarchs. This is the time to grab chips or pizza, have a beer and go to the game. The same football as everywhere else.
This is what leads the team to victory - or at least should lead. That which made many of us hate in the 70s, and that which many hate now.
Translation by Akbar MURATALIEV