Headlines

Bridge over troubled Andre

Comment: 0 November 28th, 2011 by: admin
Share
Email

ONE loss at home could have been understandable. But in the case of Chelsea, a back-to-back defeat is reason enough for them to push the panic button.

With the setbacks, the accusing finger was swiftly pointed at Andre Villas-Boas who, if you’ll ask, said he is not threatened at all if he will be fired as the Blues’ bench tactician.

In spite of knowing Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has the proclivity to fire under-achieving managers, Villas-Boas showed he’s not to be cowed by his team’s latest misfortune.

It’s still too early in the season, the Portuguese may claim, that the billionaire Russian owner would drop the axe and find a replacement for him.

However, Villas-Boas, only in his fifth month as boss, may soon be at a loss as to what hit him if his team continues to flounder and Abramovich shows him the walking papers.

Villas-Boas put up a brave front after Chelsea stumbled anew at Stamford Bridge 0-1 at the hands of Liverpool. He is not under threat from being fired, he proclaimed, backing this with a vow to fight on for his unit.

FRESH WOUND

This may not be the case anymore as the Blues took another tumble last Wednesday night, this time bowing 1-2 at Bayer Leverkusen after conceding a late goal.  With that loss, the Blues found themselves of not making it to the final 16 of the Champions League since Abramovich bought the outfit in 2003.

If the Portuguese fails to produce positive results for the Blues in their coming tiffs, Abramovich may make him the first manager to be sacked from the league this season.

The dark clouds are currently hovering at the Bridge but Villas-Boas still sees brighter days of hope ahead, trumpeting that his Russian employer did not prise him from Porto for 15 million euros only to splurge another fortune to have him kicked out.

Villas-Boas believes Chelsea pack enough talent to wage war in all competitions and despite the stinging blows that the Reds and Leverkusen handed them, the Blues can still turn things around for the better.

Before Abramovich could probably say enough is enough, Villas-Boas must find ways to untangle the mystery of their faltering defence which has given away numerous goals lately.  Although quite disturbing, he said his trust with his backline unit remains.

Chelsea are 12 points off the lead at present.  Their coming fixtures in December are decisive in their campaign and if they don’t make up for lost grounds, a dreary start of the coming year is in store for them.

The latest home loss in the Premier League showed the Blues lacking in width and cohesion. There was no consistency in their starting lineup, leading many to be puzzled why Fernando Torres is not being given sufficient time to play and instead reduced to a substitute’s role.

WHAT ROMAN WANTS

Villas-Boas, who took over from the unceremoniously-fired Carlo Ancelotti as the seventh manager in eight years for Chelsea, may not be agitated about talks that Abramovich would axe him but he must realise that the Russian does not care losing quite a few millions just to achieve his utmost goal which is to see Chelsea basking in the glory of lifting another major trophy.

Abramovich may still be backing Villas-Boas at this juncture but as in the past, the former won’t also mind at all to give Villas-Boas the marching orders if his strategy does not work wonders for the Blues.

They are campaigning in the Premier League, and Champions League as well, and Villas-Boas is not coaching Porto anymore. He is now in a different, higher level of football and must grasp that one major mistake would abruptly make the Russian fume mad. The latest loss to Leverkusen was another reason for Abramovich to mull over things as he waits how his team would perform in their coming fixtures.

If things turn for the worse, a Chelsea overhaul could be on the way, starting probably with Villas-Boas.  Results in the Premier League and the Champions League could decide the fate of the young Portuguese bench tactician, who suffered another black eye recently when he was fined 12,000 pounds by the Football Association following his comments against the referee who officiated Chelsea’s league game against Queens Park Rangers last month.

HIDDINK’S DESIRE

And like a vulture getting ready for the swoop, Guus Hiddink, the Dutch who steered Chelsea to the FA Cup success in 2009 during his short stint as interim coach, is knocking on the door and he could be a possible candidate as manager.

The 34-year-old Villas-Boas may be showing a newcomer’s jitters as far the league is concerned. As for his players, David Luiz is looking more of a liability at defence. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba may have been slowed down by age, while Torres remains inconsistent. The form of Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka may have been declining, too.

A make-or-break bid will be up for the Blues this coming December, and this could probably be decide what happens next to Villas-Boas.

If the woes keep on coming for the Blues, Abramovich is always ready to unload a portion of his fortune just to be satisfied.

 

Leave a Reply