Why lack of an ideal candidate could be real reason AVB isn't handed his P45 by Chelsea
Andre Villas-Boas is still clinging to his job at Stamford Bridge despite the worst season of the Roman Abramovich era.
But while Abramovich may have considered making a change in the hot-seat the list of potential alternatives could be the single biggest reason he will stick with the under-fire Portuguese.
Abramovich’s most obvious fall-back option - asking Guus Hiddink to do the same Red Adair-style fire-fighting job he undertook when Luiz Felipe Scolari was axed in 2009 - went out of the window last week when the Dutchman took over at Russian money-bags Anzhi Makhachkala.
Hiddink's removal from the list leaves few short-term fixes on the table.
While the lure of a lucrative Chelsea contract would tempt many, the runners and riders are not all obvious fits:
Rafa Benitez: The former Liverpool boss is available and would love to return to the Premier League, but appointing him would be an incendiary avt in the eyes of many Chelsea fans who view him as an enemy of the club.
Marcelo Bielsa: Argentinian who managed Chile to the World Cup and is now coach at Athletic Bilbao. Believed to have a limited grasp of English and no great knowledge of Premier League football.
Unai Emery: Valencia coach who's heralded as the next bright young thing in La Liga. Having boobed by appointing one relative novice in AVB, would Abramovich really repeat such a gamble?
Fabio Capello: Suddenly on the market after walking out on England, but only the cash on offer would tempt him to live in London full-time. His defensive approach hardly fits Abramovich vision of Chelsea becoming “Barcelona in blue shirts”.
Brendan Rodgers: Has done a superb job at Swansea and knows Chelsea inside out from his time there under Mourinho. Hard to see Abramovich appointing a British manager.
Mark Hughes: Thought he was a genuine contender last time round, but was never really in the frame. The Welshman, now operating down the road at QPR, has an in at the Bridge via his agent Kia Joorabchian.
Pep Guardiola: Who better to deliver Abramovich’s dream team than the man currently in charge of the best footballing side on the planet? Has hinted that his Nou Camp time could soon be up but would need to be convinced of Chelsea’s suitability.
Jose Mourinho: The man pretty much every Chelsea fan would love to see back in SW6. Mourinho is no longer at war with Abramovich, but the Russian would be admitting a mistake by re-hiring him and that is not in his nature. And we all know it would end in tears again.
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