Chelsea's most under-appreciated: 4 players, 2 managers and the good doctor

Chelsea’s most under-appreciated: 4 players, 2 managers and the good doctor

Chelsea's French-born Senegalese striker Demba Ba celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, northwest England, on April 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR LIVE SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas reacts during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London, on February 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO via Getty Image/BEN STANSALL /

2. Andre Villas-Boas: If he was better, would we have had Munich? (Kevin Peacock)

Andre Villas-Boas was appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2011 after the shock sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. To Chelsea fans, the arrival of Jose Mourinho’s former number two was as underwhelming as it was uninspiring. Villas-Boas appeared to have been brought in to lower the average age of the starting XI.

Results were indifferent throughout his time, but it was his relationship with some of the senior players at the club that caused the most friction. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien all found themselves benched for the “greater good.” The situation came to a head following a 3-1 defeat in the Champions League at Napoli. Lampard, Essien and Ashley Cole were all dropped for that game.

Following that and a subsequent 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion that left Chelsea trailing in the race for fourth, the powers that be decided a change was needed. It was a seminal moment.

Villas-Boas’ crass stupidity in thinking he could overcome the player-power that had been instigated by Mourinho eight years prior is massively unappreciated.

Roberto di Matteo and Eddie Newton were tasked with steadying the ship and pushing for a place in the following season’s Champions League. The club finished the season in sixth place. However, the more relaxed environment instigated by di Matteo saw Chelsea defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final and Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

What began as a damp squib for Blues fans ended in the most glorious of nights in Germany, thanks to Andre Villas-Boas’ appalling man-management skills.

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