“The thing is that what we were doing (at Chelsea) in terms of the project, words did not meet the actions, so I think I was cut short,” head coach Andre Villas-Boas was quoted as saying on Sunday morning. His time with Chelsea is all too well documented within the game itself – he was bought in by Roman Abramovich to improve the Blues fortunes on the pitch over a three-year period.
However, he lasted a little over nine months into his tenure after upsetting the dressing room at Stamford Bridge. The likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard didn’t take too kindly to his methods, despite the Russian oligarch requesting that he look to prepare for life after the ‘old guard’. It didn’t work out for him in West London and as such, Tottenham Hotspur is now under his stewardship.
He’s now been in the role almost two weeks, with his regime a welcoming change by players and fans alike. Instantly warming to him, perhaps the aftermath of the Harry Redknapp sacking from the media boosting the love for him, and supporters look to have found a special place in their hearts for the 34-year-old.
Yet, whilst his words to the media have appeased all those that have listening, Villas-Boas continues to harp on about his time with the Blues. Today, the Portuguese tactician claimed that Spurs are club better run than his previous employers. Now, I’m all for managers having digs at their former teams, especially when it’s deserved (which in his case, it is) but, there is a line that needs to be drawn.
The former FC Porto head coach made similar remarks earlier this week, claiming the cup success the West London side enjoyed last season was party down to him. Whilst that may or may not have been the case, Villas-Boas should’ve let it lie with those quotes. He made his point and now is the time to move on.
However, he couldn’t resist another stab at his former side, another chance to stoke the flames, if you will. Spurs fans can understand that he wants to ‘do one over’ his previous employers, a majority of people do. But, instead of taking the Redknapp approach and discussing the matter with the media, perhaps he should do his talking on the pitch (on the sidelines, you know what I mean).
If the questions were put in front of him, fair enough; all he is doing is providing a quote for a paper for them to sell. Yet, unless he was pressed by the interviewer in question, making the comments appears particularly naive in bitter. This isn’t a dig at Villas-Boas, far from it in fact, but the copious amounts of time Redknapp spent offering his opinion on the England role, for example, it would be nice to have a manager (head coach) who prefers to remain out of the media spotlight.
Interest this summer was always going to be high at White Hart Lane and, as anticipated, the media were always going to jump at the first opportunity to bring the latest story in North London. However, it’s time for Villas-Boas to forget about his time with Chelsea and focus on Spurs. We know you’re bitter about how it all ended, but it’s time to look forward to the future and that future is so bright; it’s Lilywhite.
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