Barca on mind as Chelsea puts money on Villas-Boas
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Shanghai Daily, June 23, 2011
Chelsea's appointment of Andres Villas-Boas is a daring gamble that marks a new period at Stamford Bridge, as the young Portuguese manager looks to shed the conservative style of play established by mentor Jose Mourinho with an attacking brand of football more akin to European champion Barcelona's.
Chelsea's decision to make Villas-Boas the youngest ever manager in the English Premier League - just a few months older than several players at 33 - doesn't mark the first time someone has taken a risk on the relatively inexperienced coach poached from Portuguese champion Porto and hailed as the heir apparent to Mourinho.
Villas-Boas' stock rose significantly following Porto's treble-winning campaign, highlighted by an undefeated league campaign and May's Europa League triumph in Dublin. That victory only increased the comparisons to Mourinho, whose first European triumph was winning the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003.
But Villas-Boas' football philosophy differs drastically from Mourinho's, as the Porto native prefers flamboyance and creativity over tactical strategy. Chelsea fans thirsty for goals and flair will appreciate Villas-Boas' admiration of Barcelona's passing style of play, and will be buoyed by the fact that Porto featured one of Europe's most potent attacks last season, scoring 145 goals.
"(Barcelona coach Pep) Guardiola is an inspiration to me every day," Villas-Boas said after the 1-0 Europa League win over Braga in May. "I am inspired not only by him, but also his philosophy and the philosophy of Barcelona, of (Johan) Cruyff, of Rinus Michels."
But some will wonder if the move to Chelsea is premature after barely two seasons of topflight experience.
Transfer market
Villas-Boas has yet to test the players' transfer market and build his own squad, making few changes to the Porto team he inherited. Villas-Boas will also have to deal with owner Roman Abramovich, who has a reputation for hasty decisions. The young Portuguese is the seventh coach hired by the Russian oligarch in eight years since he took over the club.
Abramovich has reportedly been a longtime admirer of Guardiola, who remains committed to Barcelona for another season. Like Guardiola, Villas-Boas prefers to maintain a lower profile and doesn't court controversy like the brash Mourinho, who was eventually cut loose by Abramovich despite three-plus successful seasons at Stamford Bridge.
Villas-Boas agreed to a three-year contract at the west London club after Chelsea paid 13.3 million pounds (US$21.5 million) to trigger an escape clause in his contract.
A protege of former Porto coach Bobby Robson, Villas-Boas replaces the sacked Italian Carlo Ancelotti.
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