10 Things the Media Doesn't Get About Chelsea

Sometimes, the media just doesn't understand.

Mind you, I consider myself a part of the media at B/R and I'm proud of it. But a club is more than just meets the eye.

Again, as a part of the media, I can't be sure of these things. However, as a dedicated Chelsea fan, I can honestly say that this is a very misunderstood club. The European champions are tougher than these misconceptions and it's time to expose those stereotypes for what they are.

False.

Didier Drogba's Departure Won't Be a Huge Deal

For fans, losing Didier Drogba will be tough.

For journalists, Drogba's departure is poetic. For Chelsea, it isn't a huge deal.

There's no doubt that Drogba is an all-time great at Chelsea. He's done incredible things in a Chelsea uniform and he was great to watch. However, as Chelsea move forward as a team, Drogba's departure will not be horrible.

He will be missed, but Chelsea will get along fine without Drogba.

The Manager Matters

Since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003, there have been nine managers.

While the revolving door is slightly comical, it's clear that different managers have yielded different results. It's not like there has been a pattern with each reign. Instead, each manager has brought something new to the table.

With Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea seem to be on the right track. He became interim manager late in the season, but he still led the club to two trophies. With a full season of work, Chelsea could be very successful with him at the helm.

Players Respect the Old Guard

There is a pecking order at Chelsea.

As with big clubs, the eldest players have the most weight in the locker room. They know what it takes to win at a club, and they deserve the utmost respect.

When Andre Villas-Boas benched Frank Lampard (after benching Nicolas Anelka and Alex), he created a clear divide in the dressing room. Players respected the veterans, but Villas-Boas did not.

Once things turned around for Chelsea, it was clear that Lampard deserved to play, and he wasn't as washed up as Villas-Boas made him seem. Roberto Di Matteo respected the pecking order and Chelsea turned the season into a successful one.

Roman Abramovich Just Wants to Win

There are a lot of negative things that can be said about Roman Abramovich.

However, it should be noted that the Russian billionaire just wants to win. Everything he's done at Chelsea has been to win the Champions League. Sure, some of it was misguided, but it was all for a good cause.

Abramovich has a very unique style, but it all works toward one thing: winning.

Chelsea Always Believed

Chelsea were just about out of the Champions League against Napoli.

They were down 2-0 to the best team of this generation in Barcelona. Then the Blues conceded a penalty in extra time against (probably) the most talented team in Germany.

Somehow, Chelsea came out on top.

Even when things were down, Chelsea (players, coaches and fans alike) believed. It was a tough road, but Chelsea found a way to be successful. Faith in the club was a big reason why.

Chelsea Don't Look Up to Other Clubs

Around the world, there are greater clubs (historically) than Chelsea.

In recent memory, there are even a few greater clubs.

With that said, Chelsea isn't trying to be like any of them. With Roman Abramovich at the helm, Chelsea have been content in being unique. The club, along with its swagger and style of play, simply wants to win for itself.

It isn't about being like Manchester United or Barcelona. It's about winning the Chelsea way.

Money Is a Part of Football

Roman Abramovich has injected a healthy amount of money into Chelsea.

He has bought players for ridiculous amounts of money and he will continue to do so. That doesn't mean you should hate Chelsea.

Abramovich was ahead of his time with all this spending. Sure, with FIFA Fair Play coming into practice, the spending will tone down a bit, but the richest clubs will still have an advantage. It may not be a fair playing field, but no one ever said it had to be.

I'm not going to point fingers (Manchester City, anyone?), but Chelsea isn't the only club spending tons of money. For better or for worse, big spending is a part of the game.

John Terry Is a Great Leader of Men

John Terry isn't a nice guy.

By most accounts, he isn't even really a good guy.

But he's a good footballer. And he's a good leader. In Chelsea's eyes, that's all that matters.

Terry has had plenty of issues off the field, but you could never question his play on the field. He works hard, plays well and genuinely cares about the club. When you put that all together, you have a pretty good captain.

Terry may not be a great person, but he's a fantastic captain.

The Future Is Bright

There is a lot of talk about Chelsea's old players and bleak future.

Don't be so quick to write off the European champions.

Chelsea have a handful of young players to loan out (Gael Kakuta, Romelu Lukaku, Josh McEachran), and a handful ready to become household names (Ryan Bertrand, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata). With these guys at the club, Chelsea will be doing all right for a long time.

All of these players are under 25 years old, which means they could be at Chelsea for the next decade. Yeah, the future is looking just fine.

Chelsea Is a Passionate Club

Chelsea fans are known as "glory hunters," "plastic," and "frontrunners," but those aren't necessarily true.

Sure, like every successful club, Chelsea have the bandwagon fans. They come with the trophies. It's the heart that makes Chelsea a great club.

The players, coaches and fans all have a passion for the Chelsea blue. The people are what make Chelsea great. It's not just about beating opponents with a punishing style. It's about more than that.

It's about winning trophies. It's a way of life.

As far as Chelsea are concerned, it's their way of life.