AVB Defends His Tactics
22 February 2012
Andre Villas-Boas will not care to be reminded that only three teams have ever recovered from a two-goal deficit in the Champions League era.
He knows that a 2-0 win over Napoli in the return leg of their last-16 tie will see the Blues progress to the quarter-finals. But with Chelsea’s rickety defence plain to see last night, and Napoli’s swashbuckling attackers ready to pounce on the counter-attack, who would bet against a breach at the Bridge in the second leg?
Yet more pressure was heaped on AVB last night, as Napoli made good on their pledge to swing a wrecking ball at English football.
Shorn of injured skipper John Terry for two more months before the game even started, the crouching Chelsea boss has copped flack for keeping his next most experienced player- Frank Lampard- on the bench.
AVB’s experimental side wilted in the daunting atmosphere of Estadio San Paolo, and perhaps even Lampard would not have made a difference.
What is clear is that AVB needs the Blues to pull it out of the fire in a big way in the return leg.
He continues to insist that his job is safe, and that every team he selects now is in line with his “three year project” at Chelsea.
But if the Blues get eliminated from Europe at this early stage with just the FA Cup to play for, not even a lucid plan for the future may be enough to quell Roman Abramovich’s misgivings.
After the match, AVB staunchly defended his team selection, and insisted that Chelsea are not dead and buried yet.
"It was a technical decision. Regarding the formation, with Mata playing behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1, we chose two sitting midfielders tonight who are two hard workers in front of the defence.That's not to say that Lamps could not do it – for sure he could – but that was the decision we took,” the manager said, explaining Lampard’s starting spot on the bench.
“People can have an opinion [on the selection] but it was based on what was the best team in my thoughts."
"We are sure we can turn this result around at the Bridge, just because of the amount of chances we had," Villas-Boas added.
"Being more clinical and more efficient in front of goal was the difference between the teams. They had an efficiency we couldn't find, while we paid a heavy price for the mistakes we made. But I'm confident. We created a lot of chances tonight and, if we do that in the return match, we'll have every chance of getting through.”
comments
T i bhova wel said
Submitted by: Cliffy
Date: 23 February 2012, Time: 08:33:33
avb here s de plan, get rid of old dogs ,lampard,drogba,tery nd dat wll benefit nd i i tnk u made a mstke by letng alex go, as for el nino jst us shevshenco,a enelka, ivory muti s to big
Submitted by: 19890518
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 23:27:45
Derz only one coach who can use 4-2-3-1 n succeed n dat is Mr Special one Jose Mourinho,hz killing teams in Spain wit dat formation n dats de best formation we can use but only if we play Essien n Romeu infront of de defenders,Ramires was jus joggin de wol 90mins n he neva won any ball but kept on losin it,Malouda was nower to be seen,Raul was jus average,Sturridge selfish as usual,Luiz maks costly mistakes,Cahill was average,Ivanovic was caught slpn on de 2nd goal,DD was average,Mata was jus superb only to be let down by his teammates,we jus need new faces n get rid of sum lads der!!!!!!!
Submitted by: Ibhova
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 23:17:45
F?ck you AVB, I HATE U 4 HUMILATNG MY TEAM. CHELSEA S DA MOST POWERFUL TEAM, NT ONLY IN ENGLAND BT IN DA WRLD. I DNT KNW WHY ESIEN, LAMPS N KALOU R SITNG ON DA BENCH WHN DY R OUR MST INFLUENTIAL PLAYAS. DAT MEIRELES S USLESS N RAMIRES IS NT FIT. MRAPER4CHELSEA.
Submitted by: Mrapper3
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 20:39:00
Wrong starting line-up and we paid the price, our defense as sloppy as they get. AVB get ur house in order because if were knocked out of the CL kiss ur job GB,
Submitted by: Mphikela_K_Maela
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 14:00:00
This guy is not a bad coach,& if he gets more time(unlikely now), he should do like pep did at Barca. Pep got rid of several massive players(incl ronaldinho, etoo & deco) not for 'football' reasons but for restoring order in the team & also to protect other players, but especially messi who was now the top priority going forward. If AWB doesn't have the balls to take a bold move like that then he's no visionary & desrves to be sacked
Submitted by: jommak
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 12:40:13
Poor "Average Village Boy" I wonder how long Roman will protect-Or he must rather give the troublesome JT the job LOL!!!!!!!!
Submitted by: madonselas
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 12:00:59
Two hard workers infront of defence? come on AVB those two were just running they never won a single ball let alone giving Lavezzi a lot of space to score. Ramirez in front of defence. you corrupting the guy.
Submitted by: acmahlathi12
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 11:38:32
What makes AWB think the napoli trio won't be as clinical and as efficient in front of goal in the return leg as they are on any given day, especially against such type of defences? I don't know whether to call it ignorance or arrogance. Well, I guess u have won 2-0 and have progressed to the quarters, huh?
Submitted by: jommak
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 11:17:05
I feel sorri 4 our coach..the senior players seem to be ganging up on him..he must get rid of all of them!! Get us hulk and and maby an attacking midfielder..and i thnk david luiz shud b pushed to midfield
Submitted by: Super7
Date: 22 February 2012, Time: 11:16:14