Chapter 445: Start By Defeating Gao Shen
About an hour's drive from London's southwestern suburbs, in the southeastern corner of the small town of Cobham, sits a modern training base spanning nearly 800 acres.
Turning off the town road onto a two-lane path, you wind forward for two or three hundred meters before seeing a long row of parking spaces on the left. At the end of the parking lot is a magnificent building with a curved, vaulted roof modern and stylish in design.
This is the beating heart of Chelsea Football Club, another masterpiece brought to life under Roman Abramovich's ownership.
Across the narrow path, large-scale construction is underway. Two tall cranes stand prominently as new developments take shape.
"This is the second phase of our Cobham training base," Abramovich explained enthusiastically as he stepped out of the car, gesturing toward the construction site in the distance. His tone carried pride. "We're building a state-of-the-art facility for the first team, along with an indoor training ground. This means that even during harsh winters or snowstorms, training sessions will never be disrupted."
Abramovich laughed as he continued, "We'll be one of the first Premier League clubs with this kind of advanced indoor facility. From now on, Chelsea will undoubtedly have the best training environment in the league. No more training in that decrepit warehouse near Heathrow Airport."
He couldn't help but laugh at the memory.
Back in 2003, when Abramovich first acquired Chelsea, he brought in superstar players like Claude Makélélé, spending exorbitant sums of money to assemble a dream team. But despite the star-studded lineup, Chelsea's training ground at the time—north of Heathrow Airport—was little more than a run-down structure resembling an old warehouse.
The football world ridiculed Chelsea, mocking them as a nouveau riche club with no class, as if they were driving a Ferrari to haul vegetables. It was a laughingstock, a colossal waste of resources.
However, it wasn't just Chelsea. Most Premier League clubs at the time had subpar training facilities, even the giants like Manchester United.
The exception was Arsenal's Arsène Wenger. After selling Nicolas Anelka, he reinvested the funds into both signing Thierry Henry and constructing the Colney training base, ensuring that Arsenal remained at the forefront of training infrastructure in the Premier League.
Stung by the ridicule, Abramovich made it his mission to address Chelsea's shortcomings. After exploring several options, he finally settled on Cobham, officially opening the training base in 2007.
---
Standing next to Abramovich was Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach who had guided the Russian national team to success in the European Championship the previous summer. Hiddink was best known for leading South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
But everyone knew the real reason for his presence.
As a renowned European coach, Hiddink shared a close personal relationship with Abramovich. Rumors suggested that Abramovich had even facilitated his role with the Russian national team. This connection made it impossible for Hiddink to decline Abramovich's call to take over at Chelsea.
"And further ahead," Abramovich continued, pointing into the distance, "is our youth training base. It's already operational and will ensure a steady stream of talent for Chelsea's future."
Abramovich then gestured invitingly, leading Hiddink into the vaulted-roof building.
As they approached the entrance, a group emerged from the building. At the front was a bald middle-aged man in a blue Chelsea tracksuit—Ray Wilkins, a familiar face in English football.
Wilkins had played for clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, and AC Milan before transitioning into coaching. He'd served as an assistant at Queens Park Rangers, Fulham, and even Chelsea during Gianluca Vialli's tenure, following the Italian to Watford afterward.
In 2002, Wilkins became an assistant coach for England's U21 team. By 2008, when Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge of Chelsea, he was invited back to Stamford Bridge to assist the Brazilian manager. After Scolari's dismissal, Wilkins took charge of the team's training sessions on a temporary basis.
Now, as Chelsea's most familiar face, he would undoubtedly become Hiddink's most valuable assistant.
Abramovich introduced Wilkins to Hiddink. After exchanging pleasantries, Wilkins led them toward the team's locker room.
"The players are waiting," Wilkins said as he walked ahead.
---
Chelsea's squad this season remained strong, with many key players from Mourinho's era still at the club.
When Scolari was appointed, there had been high hopes. His early matches were thrilling, showcasing an aggressive and entertaining brand of football. At the time, people often grouped Chelsea alongside Napoli in Serie A and Barcelona in La Liga as teams with electrifying attacking play.
But as the season progressed, things unraveled. While Napoli and Barcelona surged ahead, Chelsea faltered.
Their struggles worsened after the winter break. Chelsea suffered a string of defeats, including poor results against top-four opponents, managing just one draw and four losses in five such matches. With a win rate of only 56%, Scolari had the lowest success rate of any Chelsea manager in recent years.
After a crushing loss to Liverpool, Scolari faced open opposition from the locker room and fans. Isolated and abandoned, he eventually left with a £7.5 million severance package.
Scolari's attempted transformation of Chelsea had failed.
Now, Hiddink was stepping into the chaos, taking over the "hot potato" at Abramovich's request.
---
In the locker room, Hiddink stood before Chelsea's star-studded lineup: Drogba, Anelka, Deco, Joe Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Essien, Terry, Carvalho, and Cech.
He scanned their faces. What he saw wasn't confidence but dejection.
This wasn't Mourinho's Iron Lions anymore.
Confidence, so difficult to build, had been shattered.
Fortunately, Hiddink had time, two weeks before their first match under his charge.
Abramovich addressed the players first, introducing Hiddink as the new head coach in a solemn manner that left no doubt about the importance of cooperation. It was clear that management expected everyone to fully support Hiddink.
Once Abramovich finished, the room erupted in polite applause.
Hiddink stepped forward.
As a coach with a decorated career, his presence commanded respect. The players couldn't help but sit up straighter as he began speaking.
"Do you still want to win a championship?" Hiddink's first words sent shockwaves through the room.
A championship?
Was that still possible?
The players exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to respond.
Abramovich, standing behind Hiddink, smiled to himself. He knew Hiddink well.
"I know what you're thinking: 'How is this possible?'" Hiddink said, voicing their doubts.
"But let me remind you, in football, nothing is impossible."
His sharp gaze swept over the players.
"In February 2006, Real Madrid was ten points behind Barcelona in La Liga. The entire world thought they were finished, a relic of the past."
The room fell silent.
"But as you all know, that team made the impossible possible. They not only overtook Barcelona but went on to win the Champions League, claiming a historic double."
Hiddink paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Even Abramovich seemed captivated by the reminder of that legendary feat.
"That coach achieved the unthinkable. And as fate would have it, he will be our first opponent in the Champions League."
The players were silent, their attention locked on Hiddink.
"Let me ask you this: If those Real Madrid players could do it, why can't you?"
His question hung in the air. Slowly, some players shook their heads. None of them wanted to admit they were less capable than others not even the Galácticos of Real Madrid.
"I've watched some of your games," Hiddink continued. "I won't comment on my predecessor, but I will say this: blindly imitating other teams' styles won't work. Even the most advanced tactics won't succeed if they don't suit you. Chelsea has its own identity, its own heritage."
Several players nodded in agreement.
"You are all adults, seasoned professionals who've succeeded at the highest levels, whether in the Premier League, the Champions League, or the World Cup. I know you're among the best in the world."
Hiddink's tone softened.
"When I walked into this locker room, I worried I might find a team that had lost its spirit. But after seeing you, I am full of confidence."
"Because I know you're not afraid of challenges."
"I'm here to help you. In the weeks ahead, let's respect each other and face the challenges together. I'm confident we can reverse our fortunes in the Premier League, the Champions League, and beyond."
"I just need your cooperation."
Turning toward Wilkins and the rest of his staff, Hiddink declared, "With all of us working together, success is inevitable."
He paused, letting his final words linger:
"And it begins by defeating Gao Shen and his Napoli!"
****
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