AVB ‘project’ finally put out of its misery

Roman Abramovich is not a man renowned for patience, so it came as scant surprise this defeat was the final straw for the uncompromising Chelsea owner.

Less than 24 hours after departing The Hawthorns, Andre Villas-Boas received the news everyone had been expecting.

The game was up, his brief Stamford Bridge reign was over. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that he had not become the ruthless Russian’s latest managerial victim sooner.

Defeat against West Brom on Saturday was unthinkable for the Portuguese but that was exactly what Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley inflicted on Chelsea with his 82nd-minute winner.

It was a grim end to his ‘project’, as Villas-Boas referred to it, which lasted just eight months, having cost Abramovich €16 million to prise him from Porto after winning the quadruple there last season.

The 34-year-old had been charged with the task of overhauling Chelsea’s ageing squad and playing style, yet, perhaps foolishly, he appeared intent on revolution rather than evolution and it led to key senior players of previous seasons like Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba feeling isolated.

In truth, Abramovich had shown more patience with ‘AVB’ than predecessors such as Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti.

But, with Chelsea’s campaign in danger of becoming their worst since Abramovich’s arrival almost nine years ago and, most significantly of all, the possibility of them missing out on the Champions League very real (they sit fifth, three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal), the Russian felt compelled to act. One by one, statistics were thrown at the Portuguese at his post-match press conference. Not one of them reflected favourably.

This was the first time Chelsea had lost to the Baggies since 1979.

The gap between leaders Manchester City and Villas-Boas’ team now stands at 20 points.

Chelsea have won just three of their last 12 Premier League matches and one of their previous seven in all competitions.

“We don’t win enough and that number [three wins in 12] is not a number that makes us proud,” said Villa-Boas.

It could only end one way.

A Chelsea statement read: “Andre Villas-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club.

“The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early.

“Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season.

“The club is still competing in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup, as well as challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League, and we aim to remain as competitive as possible on all fronts.

“With that in mind, we felt our only option was to make a change at this time.”

Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed first-team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season with his first game coming against Birmingham in the FA Cup fifth-round replay tomorrow night.

Already a Stamford Bridge favourite from his playing days, the Italian could yet earn legendary status should he lead them to silverware in that competition or, more importantly, the Champions League, however an uphill task awaits in that competition with Napoli leading their last-16 encounter 3-1 after the first leg.

His instalment appears to rule out the arrival of Rafa Benitez, who had been rumoured to have been lined up for the position until the end of the season.

There was, however, growing speculation yesterday that Abramovich is plotting to poach Pep Guardiola from the Nou Camp this summer in what would represent a significant coup for the Stamford Bridge club.

Villas-Boas’ final press conference had exposed the extent of his problems.

The Portuguese revealed afterwards that it was “two or three days” since he last spoke to Abramovich and that he was “under more pressure” than ever before.

“I don’t have to disclose the conversation, I’d give you too many headlines,” he added, intriguingly.

Just as worryingly, he admitted he had said “nothing” to his players after their insipid display, which offered little indication they were still playing for him.

West Brom created the lion’s share of the chances, yet Daniel Sturridge spurned perhaps the best early in the second half.

Steven Reid’s sudden collapse into a heap after turning his ankle presented Juan Mata with that chance to counter, he sent Sturridge clean through yet Ben Foster darted off his line and emerged victorious from a one-on-one confrontation.

Villas-Boas finally responded to Chelsea fans’ calls for Fernando Torres by introducing him in the 76th minute, yet six minutes later the Baggies led.

Petr Cech could only punch Chris Brunt’s deep corner out to Keith Andrews, wide on the left.

His cross was fired back across goal by Liam Ridgewell and McAuley pounced to score from close range.

It was a third straight win for the Baggies, who look a good bet to beat last season’s 11th-placed finish.

McAuley said: “Buoyant is probably the word that describes the dressing room. We’re on the crest of a wave and confidence is high.

“It was a great performance from the team and it was nice to get the clean sheet but to get three points against a team like Chelsea was special.”

The mood in the other dressing room could not have been more different.

Villa-boas added: “I think we all understand that we weren’t good enough,” he said. We’ll have our conversation Sunday, like we normally do, but you can’t say anything at the end of the game because we all know it’s very, very bad and we have to reflect on it.

“Everybody, from staff to players, is responsible for the result. And myself, as manager, am also responsible. But we collided with an excellent West Brom. But we have superior talent. We have to do much, much better.

“It’s not about me. I’ve said that time and time again. It’s about Chelsea FC.

“It’s been a bad run of games for us, a bad run of results, which is punishing our belief.”

Abramovich’s belief, however, had already been exhausted and that could only lead to the exit.