Chelsea are now almost certain to turn to Andre Villas-Boas as their new boss as owner Roman Abramovich takes a massive gamble in his quest for Champions League (Chelsea 8/1 Outright) glory – it may work, but the odds are arguably stacked against the 33-year-old.
They say you know you’re getting old when policemen are all younger than yourself, but now that can be applied to football managers given the successes of Villas-Boas and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola on a European level.
Villas-Boas’ brief will have the Champions League highlighted as a priority although he will also be expected to challenge in the Premier League (Chelsea 5/2 Outright) and FA Cup as well – a tough ask and one riddled with problems.
AGE
Villas-Boas is the same age as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, with many of Chelsea’s squad also close to or in their early 30s and while there is the saying in football ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ it has never really been applied to managers.
Guardiola managed to make light of the situation at the Nou Camp when he succeeded Frank Rijkaard, but it must be remembered he was a real crowd favourite and former Barca captain during an illustrious playing career.
Villas-Boas can draw on none of that history and even if he could the way Ray Wilkins was treated last season tells you everything about Chelsea’s modus operandi compared to Barcelona’s.
Simply put, Villas-Boas will find it hard to win over the dressing room – Luiz Felipe Scolari did not manage it and he had two World Cup campaigns under his belt and was in his late 50s when handed the job.
SQUAD
Chelsea’s squad won nothing last season despite a blistering start and there is no doubt there needs to be a major overall.
Villas-Boas has already been linked with a number of his current Porto players but that means established names will have to be moved on, with the Premier League allowing only 25 players to be registered.
And while there is dead wood to cut out at Stamford Bridge, it is up front where Villas-Boas appears to be inheriting a real problem following the £50m signing of Fernando Torres in January.
Torres has never convinced after swapping the red of Liverpool for the blue of Chelsea and we’re told Villas-Boas is likely to bring star striker Radamel Falcao with him from Estádio do Dragão.
With the presence of Drogba, Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou already at Chelsea it would seem a big name is set to have their nose pushed out of joint – but how will a tight-knit squad react?
The same case can be made in midfield if Luka Modric and João Moutinho arrive to breathe more life into the squad.
CREDENTIALS
Villas-Boas won the Portuguese at a canter last season which is always a nice stat until you realise Porto have won the Primeira Liga in seven of the last nine campaigns.
Porto also swept all before them in the Europa League but, again, it must be remembered it is very much a second-tier competition taken lightly by many of the clubs involved in it.
To be fair, Villas-Boas’ side scored goals en route to their 1-0 Dublin success against countrymen Braga – although they were in a fairly weak group alongside the likes of Rapid Vienna, CSKA Sofia and Besiktas.
They were impressive in seeing off Sevilla, CSKA Moscow, Spartak Moscow and Villarreal – although made easier given their domestic dominance in winning the league with games to spare – but it will still be a massive step up for Villas-Boas into the Champions League – Abramovich’s Holy Grail.
SUMMARY
Chelsea are in transition and look set to appoint a 33-year-old to oversee matters which seems to have all the hallmarks of Steve McClaren’s England reign – the job has simply come too soon for him.
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