So, it’s come to this for Chelsea? A disappointing 3-1 first-leg defeat in Naples against Champions League second round opponents Napoli, fifth place in the Premier League whilst 17 points adrift of table toppers Manchester City and a 5th round FA Cup replay with Birmingham City which could well see a major upset on the cards. The latter certainly isn’t beyond the realms considering City’s stellar performance in their 1-1 draw at the Bridge last weekend. And who is to blame for all this?
Andre Villas-Boas, 34, poached from Portuguese champions Porto in the summer is currently enduring a very difficult time of it. He can’t face the press without questions of his seemingly tenuous position as Chelsea manager and the fans – not to mention the players – aren’t exactly full of praise for the man in charge either. AVB speaks of a three-year ‘project’ that he and owner Roman Abramovich are currently working towards, one which he hopes will come to fruition should he see out his full contract in west London. The problem being that he might not be given chance to do so.
The issue that the manager finds is that his dressing room is clearly divided and the proof is in the pudding – look at the performances of the players in recent weeks. See the meek three goal surrender against Man United, the tame 2-0 defeat to Everton or the aforementioned 1-1 draw with Championship side Birmingham in the FA Cup for classic examples. Villas-Boas, hoping to achieve a credible result against Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League tie, stuck his neck on the line and dropped Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres.
Alas, his team selection didn’t do him any favours and the Blues looked disjointed at the back and slipshod up front. Left-back Cole and veteran midfielder Lampard openly spoke out at their disappointment at being left out of the side – a fine example of the inherent problem that the manager has; player power. Chelsea’s senior stars have, in the past, been notorious for controlling segments of the dressing room at the club. An all-too-familiar scenario seems to be surfacing now and Andre Villas-Boas is struggling to maintain harmony in amongst his squad of players.
The last few months have proven, if anything, that this is set to be a season of transition for the west London club. There are a number of players in the squad who are reaching the end of their careers and ones who felt they had already done more than enough have departed already (Nicolas Anelka left in the January transfer window). John Terry could well have his fate decided for him in the summer should he be found guilty of racism in the Anton Ferdinand affair which goes to trial in July. Some of the other elder statesman – Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard – may well be surplus to requirements as AVB looks to build his own squad of players and ethics at the club. These are key players but ones who can’t have the same effect as they once did in games, it’s time to let the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata come to the fore.
The manager has insisted that he has the backing of Roman Abramovich and, to be fair, he may well have a point. The current run they find themselves on is wretched – one win in seven and a cluster of poor performances – yet the Russian is keeping schtum. Phil Scolari was fired for less, as was double-winner Carlo Ancelotti such is the ruthlessness of Abramovich and his demand for Chelsea to be ‘Barcelona in blue’. Right now, the silence is deafening at Stamford Bridge and Abramovich needs to come out in support of his manager and assure him, the players and the press that Villas-Boas is not going anywhere. Then maybe Chelsea will be able to get on with their season without this constant bad vibe clouding around the club.
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