Opinion Age of empires

The emphasis on results has been replaced by loud proclamations of a ‘project’ with words such as ‘identity’ and ‘style’ hovering around like persistent flies. Easier said than done,though,in an age where the chairperson’s (lack of) support for managers is only matched by that of the supporters.

With Real,City and Chelsea stuttering in their attempts to create a playing style resembling an aesthetic,all talk of crises surrounding their patchy form and results seems harsh and redundant. Lauded one week but laid into the next,it becomes more unfeasible for a transformation to proceed.

In this scenario,the difference between building squads based on a clear philosophy and building a squad on the whims of a president’s cheque-book becomes even more apparent.

Sir Alex spoke reverentially of the patience that United showered on him when he began. Football has changed though and clubs now are corporate institutions and sites of branding for purposes of investment.

Arsenal and Atletico,clubs topping the English and Spanish leagues respectively,have managers who are settled but have faced travails in their respective careers at their current sides. While Arsene Wenger has been roundly panned for the last few seasons for making Arsenal a selling club,Diego Simeone was criticised for trying to impose a physical style — making it resemble an Italian side — on a side known for flowing football,if not titles.

They have created cohesive,if small,units which need more players. If those at the helm of Chelsea,City and Real can control their impulse to fire,maybe the age of dynasties and empires might set in sooner than they envision.

(Hormazd is senior sub-editor based in New Delhi)

hormazd@expressindia.com