Chelsea are becoming an ’embarassment’ to the Premier League after sacking André Villas-Boas after just eight months at the club, according to League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan. He claimed on Radio 5, ‘Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league.’
Chelsea are becoming an ’embarassment’ to the Premier League after sacking André Villas-Boas after just eight months at the club, according to League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan. He claimed on Radio 5, ‘Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league.’
Of course, one wouldn’t expect the spokesman for managers to greet a sacking as a sensible decision in the circumstances, but Bevan argued, ‘What’s for sure is the club, despite unlimited wealth, haven’t yet worked out how to build a successful club.’
What has been missing from the extensive commentary to date is any reference to the indirect effects of Uefa’s financial fair play rules. Of course, Chelsea have always wanted to qualify for the Champions League for prestige reasons. But with the club making big losses it needs the substantial revenue from the competition to avoid falling foul of the Uefa rules.
One of the questions must be what the main objective being pursued by Villas Boas was meant to be. The Chelsea squad needs rebuilding and that it has not going to happen overnight. But then three wins in twelve matches is a poor record for a team of Chelsea’s standing.
Chelsea is notorious for having a dressing room that imposes its views on (and reaches a quick judgment about) managers. But then Villas Boas was arguably too aloof. One can no longer rule with a rod of iron.
Who is going to take this job on? Roman Abarmovich apparently has a wish list which is topped by Barcelona’s Guardiola. According to media speculation, Harry Redknapp is also there, while a return for Mourinho has been mooted. What is certainly needed is some stability.