Napoli rip open leaky Blues to leave Villas-Boas on the brink

As the flares were lit around a raucous Stadio San Paulo in Naples, it was hard not to think that Andre Villas-Boas’ career as Chelsea manager was also going up in smoke.

This was a night where the Portuguese threw caution to the wind and said arrivederci to a number of the senior players who, if rumours are to be believed, have been dripping poison about him in the ear of anyone who would listen.

Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were dropped for this crucial Champions League last 16, first leg tie, while John Terry has been ruled out for up to two months with a knee injury. The stand-ins were supposed to reward the boldness of their manager with a display that saved the 34-year-old from Roman Abramovich’s axe. They did their best, but this tie is surely beyond them.