If getting the better of Birmingham City was a hard ask for Chelsea, facing S.S.C. Napoli’s attacking trident of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik in the Champions League, will certainly be food for thought for the Blues and its beleaguered gaffer Andre Villas-Boas. The lows that the Stamford Bridge outfit has been hitting lately are enough to strike oil.
This is arguably the worst season under Roman Abramovich’s era, as the besieged AVB tries to work on a magic formula that will turn the fortunes of the three-time Premier League champions around. To add salt to what appears to be a self-inflicted injury, there are reports that players have challenged the manager, at a time when the Pensioners have not won any of their last four games in all competitions.
That is not the statistic to take to the fortress that is Stadio San Paolo, a place which has not witnessed a win by any European rival since December 1994. As the first legs of the second round knockout phase center stage, AVB is in need of a win. He’s already sent out a distress call to the Chelsea hierarchy to back him up on his project, as his end draws nigh.
It’s no surprise that prophets of doom have already predicted the Portuguese gaffer is in line for a fat paycheck and a one way ticket back to Porto. Whether that will happen before the season ends, with the ghost of Fabio Capello looming large, only his Russian boss can tell. If he can get the better of Napoli, a team who beat Man City 2-1 in Italy, he may get reprieve, but only just.
However, maybe the problem is not entirely AVB. Maybe what ails the Pensioners is a case of either a different director and same cast, or same director and different cast. Maybe, still, the problem could be with the boss who’s let go of tried and tested managers, and now has a novice in the big leagues who has struggled all season to bring out his combo from the cooker.
By letting go of Jose Mourinho, a Champions League victor who won two EPL’s on the trot in his first two seasons, by letting go of Carlo Ancelotti, a Champions League winner who won the EPL in his maiden season, the joke is certainly on Mr. Abramovich. By firing and misfiring, he’s ended up with a 34-year old coach who will cost much more than any of the above when his contract is terminated.
Back to matters Napoli. The stakes are definitely high as progress into the quarters of Europe’s premier club competition gets underway. Nevertheless, this is knockout football, where scripts are thrown out of the window. Chelsea have what it takes to pull a surprise card on their critics and doubters. Their target should be an away goal, or two.
This could be the platform that goal-shy El Nino, Fernando Torres, and his strike partner, Didier Drogba use to rise to the occasion. This could be the performance that the support cast of Juan Mata, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge has long waited to pull off. Such a game could bring out the best out of a defense missing lynchpin John Terry and Ashley Cole, in cancelling out Napoli’s Big Three.
Only tonight can tell.
In the other game of the night, Real Madrid faces a cold act to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League this season, when they take on CSKA Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadion in frosty Russia.
Tuesday 21st February
8pm CSKA Moscow – Real Madrid, Luzhiniki Stadion-Moscow, SS3
10:45pm Napoli – Chelsea, Stadio San Paolo-Naples, SS3
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