Flavio Briatore's 2005 Perspective re Successful Management

-
The Guardian - Martin Rose Tuesday October 4, 2005
Ecclestone wanted to buy Chelsea, says Briatore
"Chelsea may never have been purchased by Roman Abramovich had negotiations to sell the London club to the formula one pair Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore moved at a faster pace. The Italian Briatore has revealed that he and Ecclestone had lined up Chelsea until the Russian arrived on the scene.
"We had a big programme to take over the club when Abramovich arrive by boat," said Briatore, the team principal of Renault. "He buy Chelsea from under our noses while me and Bernie are in the middle of negotiations to do the deal. It is funny. Abramovich and Bernie are very big friends - and I meet him many times. We were on our way with Chelsea, me and Bernie, and Abramovich put a stop to it."
Abramovich has ploughed unprecedented millions into Chelsea, an investment that helped them win the Premiership last season. But Briatore is convinced they would have enjoyed similar success had he got his hands on the club.
"The techniques of management are the same whether you run a clothing company or a football club. Management is the way you produce your product - your efficiency, your creativity, and the people you choose to make the dream come true," he said. "Now I stick to what I love for the moment - formula one. When I no longer have that love maybe I try football again. Guardian

See Also: Donald McRae - The Guardian - October 4, 2005
The life, loves and loneliness of formula one's champion maker
Flavio Briatore reveals the secrets of Fernando Alonso's success, the 'family' he feels closest to and how he almost bought Chelsea Profile