Back in England every fan I know is willing Jose Mourinho and his dreary team to fail in Europe as soon and in as ­humiliating a fashion as ­possible. It goes without saying that Chelsea are the popular last choice for the English Premiership title.

It's an old, historic hatred.

Every neutral I know hates the Blues with a passion. ­Generally we abhor Manchester United, loathe Liverpool and guffaw at Arsenal and Tottenham.

With Manchester City, it's too soon. Their long-suffering fans earned a temporary stay. Of course that can all change should they win a second title this season: It takes time and nurturing for mild irritation to blossom into a full-blown, deep-seated prejudice.

At first glance, it might seem odd how intense and pervasive is this hatred for Chelsea FC all across the United Kingdom, or one might add, the world.

In fact Chelsea were the most hated club in London long before the arrival of ­Roman Abramovic. Mostly we disliked their fans. Toffee-nosed elitists and psychopathic thugs united in bile, at least as we saw it.

But let's be honest. Your typical sanctimonious, Luis ­Suarez-loving Scouser or ­London-based ­Manchester United fan are equally as ­irritating.

It has to be Abramovic's cash that has elevated his club to a higher level of hate. Money has created a monster, or rather a whole team of them. Who could not despise Didier Drogba, the most histrionic striker in the history of modern soccer?

Only a Chelsea fan.

With Juan Mata gone, the whole squad is once again riddled with players you want to slap hard with a salmon. Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry are the most hated English players in all of England.

When players like these congregate with a preening, pouting manager to create a brutalist playing style, it's hardly surprising they win so few friends among neutrals.

But it's also maybe why Chelsea win. We must all writhe together in agony as they win and win again. Without a striker.

Let's face it. We deserve it. Such a pure, universal hatred should not go unpunished.



The author is a Beijing-based freelance writer. andyinbeijing@hotmail.com