Di Matteo FINALLY confirmed as Chelsea manager

What took so long? No, I'm not talking about my blogging hiatus, but rather the protracted and well overdue appointment of Roberto Di Matteo on a permanent basis. As logic would suggest based upon the renaissance Chelsea enjoyed under his stewardship and the eventual haul of two massive trophies in the form of the FA Cup and their Champions League triumph, and as many fans have so clamored, there was honestly no reason to not hand the reigns over to Di Matteo. Alas, as things so often go with Roman Abramovich at the helm, reason doesn't always prevail, but this time it has--even if such sound decision making may have only been borne out of a rumored failed dalliance with Pep Guardiola.

This was the unquestionably the right decision, but it won't necessarily mean that the period of transition that Villas-Boas faced rather unsuccessfully is suddenly no more...

While the mood amongst Chelsea fans is at an ebb that hasn't been seen for years, and rightfully so, the fact remains that Didier Drogba is on his way to pastures anew, Fernando Torres has yet to recapture his Liverpool form, and the core of Essien, Terry and Lampard is hardly getting any younger. The task of rebuilding the team will certain be made easier with Abramovich's millions still at hand and Eden Hazard coming into the fold, but it is still a task nonetheless.

Being ready for winning the marathon that is next season's Premier League race might be a task too far for this team in flux, but Di Matteo looks to have the steadying hand to lead Chelsea back to such domestic heights in due time. For his sake, one can only hope that his double winning mastercraft down the stretch this past season has bought him at least a couple of years to see his plans for the squad to fruition; time is hardly a luxury that has been afforded to his predecessors.