After spending another massive amount of money on his team this offseasson, expect the specter of Real Madrid’s failed galactico strategy to loom large over Roman Abramovich and Chelsea this season if the team fails to win a major title. In fact, anything less than a third Premier League title and the European Champions League trophy could even considered a failure by some, given Abramovich’s unlimited stash of “whatever money,” as Guardian columnist Amy Lawrence puts it. That money is what signifies how Chelsea lives on a different planet from everyone else. How about losing $30 million on the combined sale of Damien Duff and Asier Del Horno? Whatever. How about the $30 million paid for Hernan Crespo’s paltry 23 goals in two seasons? Whatever. Etc. and so forth. Abramovich has bandied about more than $200 million of this “whatever” money in the three seasons he’s been in charge. That’s money spent on players whose values have declined since they joined the Sky Blues. Add to that category Adrian Mutu, Juan Sebastian Veron, Scott Parker, Alexei Smertin, Jiri Jasolik and Tiago. Everyone else has books to balance, and $200 million equals about six-year’s TV revenue for the EPL’s 19 other clubs. Says Lawrence, “Any other club who hemorrhaged a similar sum would be, at best, looking to sack their entire board, or at worst, liquidated.” And Chelsea’s separation from other clubs is dangled in front of the rest of the Premiership every single day. If they want Ashley Cole, they will sign him, despite what amounts to a smug annoyance at having to over-pay. Kudos to Arsenal for holding out, but the North London club won’t necessarily get coveted defender William Gallas just because he wants to be part of the exchange. If Chelsea doesn’t want to sell him to a rival, he can just rot on the bench all season. Is Chelsea “hell-bent on ruining football’ as Sir Alex Ferguson says? Insofar as global domination is its goal and money is no object, you might be tempted to say yes. And then try to convince Bill Gates to buy your club.