Only three back AVB – report
Reports of a serious rift between Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and his players dominate today’s newspapers.
It is believed that Sunday’s training-ground summit attended by club owner Roman Abramovich turned into a heated argument between Villas-Boas and the squad.
And the Daily Telegraph suggest Abramovich is preparing to fire the 34-year-old, with the availability of Guus Hiddink a factor in AVB’s possible fate.
The paper say sources close to Abramovich have indicated that he may have lost patience and is thinking of making a change.
The Daily Mail also suggest Hiddink features in Abramovich’s thoughts and that the Russian billionaire is considering alternatives to the under-fire AVB.
The Guardian reports that AVB sparked a blazing row with some of his senior players during Sunday’s meeting.
He is said to have tore into members of his team only for them to hit back by making it clear what they thought of him and his tactics.
The Daily Mirror say the players voiced concerns about his management methods and team selection, but also that Abramovich made it clear to them that he still backs his manager.
The Sun believe only three players – David Luiz, Ramires and Jose Bosingwa – are fully behind AVB.
The rest, it is claimed, do not care if he is sacked and a source is quoted as saying: “His plans are obviously not working.
“The atmosphere in the dressing room is tense and more and more players are beginning to wonder if he’s the right man for the job.”
The Daily Star also report the apparent dressing-room backlash, which followed a dismal display in the 2-0 defeat at Everton the previous day.
Meanwhile, based on reports in the French media, a number of papers are running a story about Lille midfielder Eden Hazard hinting that he could join Tottenham this summer rather than Chelsea.
And the Mail say Fulham want Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez, who has also attracted interest from Southampton, Newcastle, Bolton and Everton.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
15/02/2012 @ 12:29 am
chelsea fans must we call for the head of our coach to be sacrificed when our so called professional players are sleeping in the war front, creating faction within themselves. Remember AVB was doing absolutely well at PORTO because his players were playing as a team which is the secret behind any club that is doing well e.g BARCA but in chelsea, Sturrige sees Torres as an enemy that he should not give good passes, Malaudo, kalou, lampard, Drogba are also guilty of this. Pls our chelsea fans, our problem is not the coach but our so called big boys
14/02/2012 @ 3:48 pm
I think de problem of Chelsea now is our Coach! Nd i think Chelsea owner need 2 do something b4 is too late.
14/02/2012 @ 2:50 pm
We should not axe him plz gv him 3 games.
14/02/2012 @ 11:07 am
Something must be done b/4 it will be too late. Whether we are even out of the CL or the FA cup, it will not be painful as being out of the EPL top 4. Something must be done to prevent what almost everybody is imagining(what position the club will be at by nxt month, if the poor form cont..?). I dn’t know how the management will do it. But, at the end, put back some smile to the fans out there all over the world.
14/02/2012 @ 3:17 am
He should be fired. The earlier d better. Hence no even Europa talkless of Champions league for us. Once dis happened,no real player will be ready to come to Chelsea again. Pls A’movich axe him now for a hidink to save us again as in d day of Scolari.Then do everything to bring back Jose nxt season.BLUES 4 LIFE.