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Mourinho texts sabotaging AVB’s Chelsea strategy

Comment: 0 February 16th, 2012 by: admin

STRUGGLING Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is reportedly having his authority undermined by text messages exchange between Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, and his former players now playing at Stamford Bridge.

Players dissatisfied with AVB’s style of management were said to be voicing out their frustrations to the Portuguese manager, who himself became somewhat of a mentor to Villas-Boas years back.

News of this broke out in the Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, during its interview with Porto president Pinto de Costa.

Responsible for giving Mourinho and Villas-Boas invaluable experience and exposure at Porto, de Costa stated that the continuous communication of such nature between Mourinho and his former players could prove harmful to Villas-Boas’ attempt to form a team of his own.

This would come as an additional challenge for the 33-year old manager, who has been receiving intense criticism for the Blues’ slipping performance.  He has also been under the watchful eye of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

“He will be successful with Chelsea because his contract isn’t just for one year,” de Costa.

“He needs time to mould his own team and he can’t do that as long as there are players, as I’ve heard, who exchange text messages with Mourinho.  And Abramovich knows this.”

Although there was no mention of specific players communicating with Mourinho, it is known that some squad members who were formerly under Mourinho include senior players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, and Michael Essien – only to name a few.

When asked about his opinion on Villas-Boas’ decision to leave for Chelsea, de Costa hinted at his continuing doubts about AVB’s move.

“He left thinking that Chelsea was a unique opportunity, but I believe that was a mistake because there would have been others,” he said.

Commenting on speculations that Villas-Boas is nearing ejection from the club because of a frustrated Abramovich, de Pinto stated “The only thing that will topple Villas-Boas is if he fails to qualify for the Champions League.”

Chelsea are currently just outside the top four, and qualification for next year’s competition.

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