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Roman Abramovich is a no-nonsense shrewd businessman who is known to flex his financial muscle to the fullest to bring glory to Stamford Bridge. It has been 8 years since his takeover of Chelsea but the dream of the Champions League is yet to be realized, despite the supremo’s best efforts to bring about changes in the managerial and squad level to the best desired effect. This summer, the big change at Chelsea has been the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas, the young manager from Porto who has been brought in to bring back the winning mentality at Stamford Bridge. Comparisons with Jose Mourinho were the headlines that dominated Villas-Boas’ appointment, and whether the pupil will go on to emulate his master in bringing the Holy Grail to Chelsea, and before that win the Premier League title back from Manchester United, is what is getting football watchers world over excited. These are exciting times at Chelsea.
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2010-2011 season: A brief look
Carlo Ancelotti brought the Premier League Trophy back to Stamford Bridge in 2010 only to lose it in May 2011 to a resurgent Manchester United. A trophy-less season proved catastrophic for the Italian manager as Roman Abramovich wasted no time in wielding the axe, bringing an end to the former Milan boss’ reign at Chelsea. 2010/2011 started well enough for the then defending champions Chelsea to suggest that the Blues would defend their title in a canter, as five wins on the trot with twenty one goals scored and one conceded prompted Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini to predict that John Terry and co. would win the Barclays Premier League title by Christmas. How mistaken Mancini proved to be!
A surprising change took place in the Chelsea staff set-up as Ray Wilkins was sacked and Chelsea went on their worst run in fourteen years. Injuries started to blight the Blues’ season as Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Alex went missing for crucial periods of time in the season. Fernando Torres arrived from Anfield for a record fifty million pounds in January but proved himself highly over-rated, as he put on a dour display and scored just once in the blue shirt. Although a late surge set up a title deciding clash at Old Trafford, Chelsea were always behind Manchester United in terms of confidence as Sir Alex Ferguson followed up his two legged Champions League success with a classy win that all but ended Ancelotti’s hopes of defending the title. Even before that Premier League loss to eventual champions United Mr.Abramovich had decided to make a change of guard at the Chelsea dug-out and the question was just who the man it would be. Well, the world now knows that very well.
Transfers
In:
Thibaut Courtois (GK from Racing Genk)
Oriol Romeu (MF from Barcelona)
Romelu Lukaku (FW from Anderlecht)
Out:
Yuri Zhirkhov (To Anzhi Makhachkala)
Jack Cork (To Southampton)
Michael Mancienne (To Hamburger SV)
The major transfer for Chelsea has been made on the coaching front as Carlo Ancelotti was replaced by Andre Villas-Boas. There has been no significant movement in player transfer as Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois became Villas-Boas’ first signing and immediately upon his arrival from Genk, was was loaned out to Atletico Madrid. Yuri Zhirkhov became the major casualty as the Russian midfielder’s two-year stay at Chelsea was brought to an end and was sold to Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala.
Daniel Sturridge‘s loan to Bolton Wanderers has ended and the striker has returned to Chelsea on a high after his brilliant performances at the Reebok (8 goals from 12 appearances), thus giving Chelsea energy and exuberance up front. Luka Modric is still being followed by the Blues although Tottenham have made it their season target to keep the Croatian at White Hart Lane. With the amount of money at their disposal and the lack of activity in the market, it seems that the new manager Andre Villas-Boas is happy working with the current crop of players, would look to his experienced guard to quick success and build a team for the future with the youngsters.
Pre-season results
Chelsea’s preparations for the new season went according to plans with wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth in England. A satisfying tour of Asia followed with a controversial and laboured 1-0 win over a select Malaysian XI but as the tour progressed the Blues improved considerably as Villas-Boas tasted his first success, albeit in a friendly tournament, by winning the Barclays Asia trophy in Hong Kong with a 2-0 win over Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the final. The major disappointment of the pre-season was Fernando Torres’ continuing woes in front of goal, an issue Villas-Boas would have to address immediately.
Air of change around Stamford Bridge
A change in the managerial set up brings about a certain degree of uncertainty in addition to raised expectations in and around the club. Stamford Bridge has been buzzing ever since Villas-Boas’ arrival because of the Mourinho connection. The Chelsea boss worked as a scout for his mentor, Mourinho, during his Chelsea and Inter Milan days before going on to take the Porto job and winning the treble in his debut season. Villas-Boas’ style is similar to Mourinho, for he is also extremely meticulous in his preparations for a game, exhaustive in his research of opponents; something that he demonstrated during his scouting days. He is just 33 and how the experienced guard at Chelsea will respond to him is to seen. Former Chelsea man Roberto Di Matteo has been brought on as the manager’s assistant and how well the combo will work is an exciting prospect for the club.
Speculations regarding the futures of Anelka and Drogba have abound ever since the end of last season, and for now it looks like the experienced stalwarts will form a strong base for Chelsea under the new manager. Yossi Benayoun is back from injury, which could mean he could play his first full proper season for Chelsea. Known for his great vision and wonderful combination with Torres during his Liverpool days, it remains to be seen how Benayoun will figure in the boss’ plans and whether he will play a role in Torres’ renaissance.
Players to watch
John Terry
The undisputed constant at Chelsea is captain and defensive rock John Terry. Terry would once again be the key man behind the Blues’ solid defensive set up and even Andre Villas-Boas and his deputy Roberto Di Matteo would be looking to the veteran for inspiration and match winning performances to get Chelsea rolling in the new season.
David Luiz
A fan favourite, the Brazilian was bought from Benfica in January and many feel that Chelsea’s season would have been different had the resourceful defender was ushered into the West London team’s set up a bit earlier. Strong at the back, resurgent up front and a hairstyle to be proud of, David Luiz would be relishing the chance to work under Villas-Boas.
Fernando Torres
A fifty million pound to his name and a string of performances that have done no justice to it, Fernando Torres has already been branded a Chelsea flop. Whether a new manager will herald a renaissance in the Spaniard’s career remains to be seen, for the 2011-12 season is a make-or-break for the striker who was once the most feared player in the world, but is now the butt of several jokes.
Possible Formation
Andre Villas-Boas used to be a great advocate of the 4-3-3 formation when he was the coach of FC Porto and it brought him immense success in Portugal. The coach himself has publicly revealed that the West Londoners would apply the highly effective 4-3-3 tactic and has pin pointed Daniel Sturridge, Nicolas Anelka and Yossi Benayoun to be the key men behind the Blues’ title charge. There are other two formations that Andre Villas-Boas could use in the long season which would make the 2009/2010 champions flexible to the challenges of a long season. The 4-4-2 diamond formation and the 4-2-3-1 tactical line-up could suit Chelsea’s famed attacking intent with Frank Lampard acting as the eye of the storm but with the arrival of 18-year old Belgian prodigy Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge means Chelsea are more comfortable with the tried and tested 4-3-3 formation going into the new season.
Season expectations
With a young and ambitious manager at the helm, Chelsea would be fighting on all the four fronts with genuine hopes of winning atleast two trophies. Premier League is the most important of all, winning back which is a distinct possibility, yet Roman Abramovich is known to be desperate to win the Champions League. Andre Villas-Boas is not expected to work wonders overnight and he should be given ample time to bring European glory, yet a semi-final finish in the Champions League would be a stunning achievement.
Check out our other Season Previews:
Arsenal: Will The Gunners Finally Fire?
Manchester United: All set for a Treble
Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League Football to Return to the Lane?
Valencia CF: Time to Return to Old Glory?
Manchester City: A Dynasty to be Feared?
Liverpool FC: Will They Walk Alone?
QPR: Underdogs or a Real Deal?
Sunderland: Can the Black Cats catch the European Flight?
