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Four traits that characterized Roman Abramovich’s time at Chelsea

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 12: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy following victory in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final match between Chelsea and Palmeiras at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 12: Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy following victory in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final match between Chelsea and Palmeiras at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Antonio Ruediger of Chelsea celebrates with Romelu Lukaku after scoring their side’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Antonio Ruediger of Chelsea celebrates with Romelu Lukaku after scoring their side’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

2. Resilience

Chelsea was a resilient team under Abramovich year in and year out. Much of the success the club has enjoyed has stemmed from the resilience of key players on the pitch. Chelsea fans will remember many matches where the team was outmatched—and even outnumbered—yet still won almost by sheer force of will. The second leg of the semifinal of the 2012 UEFA Champions League against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona instantly comes to mind. The quarterfinals of the same competition where Chelsea went into the second leg already 3-1 down, winning that one 4-1 after dragging the game to extra time, also comes to mind.

There are countless examples of this. Grit, force of will, a refusal to lose and a willingness to fight, and they have been all the Blues have needed to win in several key moments. One cannot help but feel like Abramovich’s ownership style definitely played a part in that success.

The most memorable squad of the Abramovich era had this resilience in spades. A squad that was symbolized by Didier Drogba leading the line, John Terry leading from the back, Petr Cech being a brick wall between the sticks and Frank Lampard pulling the strings from the middle of the park. Chelsea won its first Champions League title in the twilight of these players peaks. The Blues had gotten to the final with Avram Grant at the helm in 2008, and lost to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. They would not get to another European final until the 2011/12 season.

That season was also unique because Chelsea had sacked the manager it started the season with in Andre Villas-Boas. Roberto Di Matteo was appointed as an interim and while many didn’t expect much, the players thought differently. The Blues overcame many difficult circumstances that season to win the Champions League and the FA Cup, though they finished sixth in the table.

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