Roman understands. They are two words that might provoke a range of emotions among former Chelsea managers.
Amusement, perhaps; bemusement, definitely. Carlo Ancelotti claimed the billionaire recognises the problems at Stamford Bridge, said that there is a mutual trust between owner and manager and suggested that funds will be available in January.
Perhaps this is Ancelotti the political animal speaking, the man who survived eight years under an egomaniacal and dictatorial owner, Silvio Berlusconi, at AC Milan, with reputation and sanity intact.
Certainly, the 51-year-old Italian has rarely appeared gullible. But as Ancelotti's predecessors could inform him, and indeed as he conceded a few weeks ago, Chelsea's results mean he is entering the territory where Abramovich tends to reach for the axe, not the chequebook.
At most other clubs, this would be preposterous. Chelsea were double winners barely six months ago and have the chance to reclaim the lead of the Premier League today. But dysfunctional clubs disregard the rules that apply to others.
Decorated managers have gone before and slumps, no matter how temporary, have proved sackable offences for the ruthless Russian.
The only test of Abramovich's assertions to his manager is time. Time is the commodity that money, Abramovich's greatest asset, cannot buy, one that has been denied to others.
Time is required to reverse the recent slide where Ancelotti's habitual hangdog expression has been justified by results; three goals and five points from six games is relegation form.
As Ancelotti has admitted, Tottenham Hotspur have become the favourites for today's meeting at White Hart Lane. It was an admission of disarming honesty during a downturn.
Chelsea's next three opponents - Spurs, Manchester United and Arsenal - double up as title rivals and potential assassins. It is a decisive December; not just at the summit of the division but for the manager of last season.
It was Chelsea's stellar record against the best that propelled them to the top then, with 15 points taken from a possible 18 against their fellow qualifiers for the Champions League.
Having stumbled against Sunderland and Birmingham City, Newcastle United and Everton, the rest have presented enough problems for the champions of late.
The combination of debilitating injuries and a collective dip in performance levels would have been awkward enough.
With a squad depleted by summer departures and a backroom staff reduced by the abrupt sacking of Ray Wilkins, strength in depth can seem an illusion glimpsed in victory. Chelsea resemble a side on the brink, rounding up the last men standing, regardless of recent form, and pressing them into service.
As Ancelotti has admitted, they are not playing well. The fluency and vibrancy displayed early in the season have departed, replaced by a scrappiness. Chelsea's mutation into a prolific and potent force has been followed by a swift, sudden transformation to awkward incoherence.
Problems multiply. Paulo Ferreira, an unconvincing understudy, will be charged with stopping Gareth Bale. A patched-up John Terry has to halt a Spurs attack that can acquire an unstoppable momentum. A midfield that, Michael Essien aside, is mediocre, need to impose themselves at a hostile venue.
A temperamental team are more likely to crack than their calmer manager. A high level of equanimity may be a necessity to work for Berlusconi and Abramovich. Ancelotti's serenity has aided him in positions that more high-strung managers would have quit.
January represents respite, the combination of an easier fixture list and an opening transfer window. But first, he has to negotiate an awkward three weeks before Abramovich reverts to his trigger-happy past.
Whatever the supposed understanding of the owner, his best manager since Jose Mourinho has a new-found fallibility.
Tottenham, who revel in every misfortune Chelsea suffer, have the chance not merely to overcome them, but to induce them to press the self-destruct button again.
sports@thenational.ae
8pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 3 & 5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The view from The National
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
