It seems Wenger was right after all

The battle for which English Premier League manager would be sacked first was always between Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool), Roberto Di Mateo (Chelsea), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), Mark Hughes (QPR) and Roberto Mancini (Man City).I personally had a soft spot for Chelsea’s Italian manager and was glad for what he did for Chelsea which no other manager had managed to do in the club’s history - winning the Uefa Champions League.Although that was the trophy that the club money-magnet owner Roman Abramovich wanted since most buying the West London club in 2003/4 season. However, winning it didn’t guarantee the stay of Di Mateo, who was sacked soon as the reigning champions lost 3-0 to Italian champions Juventus in midweek which signaled the end their hopes of making it to the knock out phase.Arsene Wenger on the other hand, who has never won the Champions League but his team has appeared in each and every campaign since he took over in 1998, appears somewhat safe. Even when he declared that trophies are a second priority to playing in Europe’s biggest club competition, Wenger has never really had his job under fire, and his words were proved right by the sacking of Di Mateo.Will Benitez revive Torres?Rafael Benitez has taken the Chelsea spoils from Di Mateo until end of the season, and immediately he signed his contract, he talked of returning Fernando Torres back to his “El Nino” days.The striker, who used to score goals for fun at Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, has completely turned into a shadow of himself, managing only four goals so far this season. Despite being given ample starting time at Chelsea, he has frustrated each and every manager that has been hired, and, you can even argue that he is the reason Abramovich is on a sacking rampage.Will Benitez be able to do what AVB and Di Mateo failed to do by reigniting the fire in Torres? Only time will tell. If he fails, Pep Guardiola is waiting in the wings.The noisy neighbors take their spot… in the Champions LeagueThe number one spot in the English Premier League has been warmed by Chelsea and Manchester United; but now it can be argued that the rightful owners, Manchester City, are deservedly back on top. For how long I can’t tell, for the season is still a long way to go.But despite their form in the league, Roberto Mancini’s team has for the second successive season been shown that they are still ‘kids’ in the Champions League.Of course they will be back again next season, hopefully with a more courageous attitude. But With such a star-studded squad, anyone would expect them to walk over any side. Probably Mancini is following Di Mateo in the exit chambers.