The revolving door at Stamford Bridge has sprung into action once again, as Chelsea sack yet another manager. Roberto Di Matteo paid the price for the Blues' likely failure to reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, despite unexpectedly winning the competition just six months ago. The greatest night in the club's history came a couple of weeks after the Italian - who also won honours as a player with Chelsea - led them to FA Cup final success.
Despite rumours at the time that he would not get the job on a full-time basis, he had undoubtedly earned the chance to lead the team through another season, and although their struggles in Europe have been a cause for concern this year, their Barclays Premier League form has seen them keep the pace with the two Manchester clubs, and Chelsea were finally starting to look like a 'new' team, following the integrations of the likes of Oscar and Eden Hazard into the midfield in place of more established names such as Frank Lampard.
The problem remains Fernando Torres however. While it is not his fault entirely of course that Di Matteo has gone, you think an in-form Torres leading the line would have produced better results of late. His omission from the starting XI in Turin last night against Juventus was a clear sign that he was unfancied by Di Matteo. The problem is that it's Torres or Daniel Sturridge, and the English striker was hardly a viable replacement given his struggles.
Three managers have now tried and failed to get the best out of Torres, which perhaps explains that the current favourite to take over is former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. If he did come in and rejuvenate Torres, then the fans may grudgingly accept that it was the right decision, but I cannot imagine many of them being too happy at the potential appointment of a man who was often the nemesis of much-loved former gaffer Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea need stability badly. Keeping a manager longer than a year would be a good start. Yet, for as long as Pep Guardiola remains on his sabbatical from football following his departure from Barcelona, the speculation that he will one day head for SW6 remains high. So would the new man in the hotseat only be keeping it warm for the rest of this season? Time will tell, but I can't think that Benitez or any other successor would be too happy about being an unofficial interim boss.
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