Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has been under intense scrutiny pretty much all season, as he attempts to revitalise and ageing squad, while still remaining competitive.
The Blues have definitely got a different look about them these days. They play with an attacking freedom, that some players still don’t seem comfortable with and defensively, they are making too many individual errors and the midfield is too easy to bypass.
With Champions League qualification still in the balance, many are surprised that Villas-Boas has lasted this long, under an owner who is renowned for his impatience.
Maybe Roman Abramovich has realised a longer term plan is what his club needs right now and will back his manager – until the end of the season at least.
I saw on Twitter this weekend, from a prominent Times sports writer that many at Chelsea see Villas-Boas as a ‘dead man walking’. But despite this, John Terry has spoken out in favour of his manager in today’s match programme.
Terry said:
“During tough times, we all have to stay together as one and the players have to stand up and be counted. I have full confidence in the team and the manager to get the results we need in the coming weeks.
We strive to continue building the history of Chelsea – which means qualifying for the Champions League, pushing for a place at the top of the table and competing for trophies. Let’s set about doing that.”
It seems obvious to me that this is a gesture aimed to re-unite the squad (perhaps only temporarily) by Terry. The next few weeks are vital to Chelsea, if they can somehow manage to overturn the deficit against Napoli in the Champions League, the confidence will return to their players. They must qualify for the Champions League, and are probably still favourites to finish fourth.
I think Villas-Boas should be given time. It was inevitable that he would have difficulties changing the team, and their style of play – he is younger than his star players. But should Chelsea finish fourth, it will allow them to wipe this season from memory. They can start a fresh in the summer, getting rid of those who don’t believe in the manager and letting Villas-Boas make further signings as he looks to change the team philosophy.
A full pre-season will give Villas-Boas time to mould Chelsea how he wants and they would be a different proposition.
Sacking Villas-Boas now, means a new manager would come in short-term and probably qualify for the Champions League, but as I said, Chelsea are currently still favourites for fourth place.
Keeping Villas-Boas does represent a risk though, there is tension between him and several members of the squad, and if isn’t sorted out soon, it threatens to cost them fourth place.
That would be catastrophic for Chelsea and Abramovich must be deep in thought about what to do next.
The longer he leaves it, the more pointless it would be to sack Villas-Boas but the longer the problems might continue to fester.
