IAIN MACINTOSH: Abramovich must learn to play the waiting game

They circled him like sharks, occasionally breaking ranks to dart forward and nip him, just to see what he would do.

He did nothing. He simply sat and smiled, his grin holding firm in spite of their provocation. All he wanted to talk about was the result, a relatively comfortable 1-0 victory over a resurgent West Bromwich Albion. All they wanted to talk about was Wednesday night, the ‘rant’ at the fans and his future at the club. At one point, he elected to answer questions from an alternative universe.

“Did the chants for Jose Mourinho hurt?” asked one journalist.