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| Andre Villas-Boas must now look to a way back into football |
An out of form Jose Bosingwa starting on the wrong side of
the shaky back-four at the expense of the experienced Ashley Cole was asking
for trouble from the start, while hoping Raul Meireles and Ramires, both of
which aren’t defensive midfielders, to counter-act the brilliantly labelled
scalpel-sharp trident of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik was
never going to work. Then, to ask an unhappy Florent Malouda to complete the midfield
trio has seen the 34-year-old’s position at Stamford Bridge come under scrutiny
from more quarters than just the Chelsea fans.
Credit to Villas-Boas, he has come out and proclaimed his
position in West London is safe, citing private assurances from owner Roman
Abramovich as his reason for doing so. However, it certainly hasn’t stopped the
rumours gathering pace of a potential sacking before the season is up. Many
feel he left FC Porto too early, but without giving him a season to really
prove himself to the supporters, man of whom are already calling for his head,
is the wrong way to aid the team pull out of their current rut.
It is evident that the Blues are heading through, somewhat,
of a transitional period. The old guard of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier
Drogba aren’t the player’s they once were. An ageing spine to the side is the
sole reason Abramovich bought the Portuguese tactician. A much needed injection
of fresh blood to help conquer England, and at a stretch Europe, once again was
desperately needed within the squad, many of which Villas-Boas has inherited
from many of the five managers, from Jose Mourinho onwards.
The football may have got the club results, but it was done
in a negative, ‘anti-football’ manner, something that didn’t appease the
Russian billionaire. Avram Grant, Luis Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo
Ancelotti all failed to put a smile on the trigger happy owner’s face, although
credit to Hiddink, he won them the FA Cup and only lost once during his interim
spell at Stamford Bridge. But goalkeeper Petr Cech expertly pointed out he has
now played under seven different managers in eight years with the club, after
now Inter Milan manager Claudio Ranieri bought him to England from Rennes back
in 2004.
Chelsea are simply lacking one important factor at the
moment; stability. Whether Villas-Boas can offer them that, or Abramovich is
willing to give him the opportunity to do so, is another matter altogether.
However, it was clear the Russian had run out of patience with the manager, who
opted to part company with the 34-year-old after the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to
West Bromwich Albion. A rash decision by the oligarch, who has spent around
£600k per game in the hiring and sacking of Villas-Boas and further hampered
their chances of a top four finish and a trophy for a season, that many have
deemed unsuccessful for the Blues.
The decision to sack the former FC Porto boss could have further repercussions on the club as a whole. With the impatience of Abramovich costing them countless managers in the past, a number of the early favourites could perceive the role as somewhat of a poisoned chalice with the Russian billionaire demanding instant success or, like many before a new man has been bought, face his wrath.
As previously mentioned, the club are currently facing a
transitional period. A number of the older players need to be shipped out
particularly swiftly if Chelsea are to move forward. Villas-Boas was bought in
to oversee that period in order to improve the team in the long-run. However, the
senior generation weren’t happy with what was happening, both on and off the
pitch, and it was the player power that contributed to his downfall. Too many
times the likes of Lampard and Terry went to the press regarding the tactics
used by the manager and were heavily critical of his means of selection should
they not be utilised to, what they believe, is their full capacity.
This player power must be kicked out of the club when a
replacement is bought in, be it through selling the aforementioned duo to name
but two members of the squad or with a strict disciplinarian named as the
successor to Villas-Boas. The likes of Rafael Benitez and Fabio Capello have
been mooted as potential incomers, while former fans favourite Jose Mourinho
remains the overwhelming favourite to return to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues will now begin to struggle to find the man to
restore them to their dizzying heights in the Premiership due to the
intolerance of Abramovich. Many had assumed he had learnt from his previous
mistakes, but with his latest debacle in firing the young tactician, Chelsea
very much find themselves back to square one. Roberto Di Matteo will take
interim charge until a new man can be bought in, but even that is a temporary
solution to a permanent problem.
What next though for Villas-Boas? A hefty pay-out is
guaranteed, but in terms of football, a return to Portugal has been heavily
mooted. Personally, that would be the best option to take and it will give him
the opportunity to regain his status in the footballing world. If that isn’t
the case for the rising Portuguese manager, a move to a “lower” La Liga team
will help rebuild his dented credibility. Either way, the now former Chelsea
boss will come out of this the stronger of the two parties with his former club
now scampering to find a manager that will ensure they retain their position in
the Champions League for next season with the vein hope of landing some
silverware before the end of a miserable season for the West London giants.
Picture originally from Sabotage Times
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