Back to the future for Roman in title quest

CHAMPIONS of Europe, champions of the world. But that did not stop one former Chelsea player from sticking the boot in.

- James Robson

Craig Burley certainly was not sharing in the euphoria after Saturday's 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup.

He tweeted: "Whilst Chelsea were winning that plastic cup and it was lapped up like a World Cup win. Man City were racking up a 16-point gap on them, in a competition that really matters. Let that sink in."

It felt unnecessarily mean-spirited in the circumstances.

It is perfectly reasonable to celebrate a trophy that completes a full set of honours in the history of the club, while also accepting there is still significant ground to be made up elsewhere.

Chelsea are no more the best team in the world than they were the best team in Europe after winning the Champions League. But should that make victory any less sweet?

That it has taken them 10 years to have another chance of winning the one trophy that eluded Roman Abramovich emphasises how rarely the opportunity to be crowned world champions arises.

That they treated it seriously and celebrated accordingly is nothing to sneer at. But nor does it change the fact that breaking City's Premier League dominance must be their priority going forward.

Now Abramovich, who changed the face of English and European football when buying the club in 2003, is almost working in reverse.

For so long the Champions League was his ultimate goal, with domestic success not enough to satisfy his appetite.

Celebrating with Thomas Tuchel in Abu Dhabi, just as he had in Porto after the club's Champions League triumph last May, he will know Chelsea remain some way adrift of Pep Guardiola's champions.