PLAYER POWER AT THE BRIDGE..
FEBRUARY 2009: Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked by Chelsea after losing the confidence of senior stars at the club.
It was alleged senior players had asked for the intensity of training to be stepped up in a bid to return to the high-tempo football of the Jose Mourinho era.
Portuguese midfielder Deco, speaking in 2015, said: “Some players, if they had a problem with the coach, didn’t speak with him but instead communicated directly with the directors. That isn’t good for a team.”
Didier Drogba (right) also revealed in his autobiography that he called Roman Abramovich to complain after Scolari insisted he would be sold.
The striker wrote: “When I left the meeting, the first thing I did was call Mr Abramovich and explained the situation via one of his assistants.” He was then told by the owner: “No, you’re not going anywhere. Who said you were going?” Soon afterwards, Scolari was sacked. Drogba went on
to score in the FA Cup final win later that season.
FEBRUARY 2012: Andre Villas-Boas sacked by Chelsea after less than a year. The decision was taken after a run of just three league wins in 12 games. He was replaced by Roberto Di Matteo, who was in charge for the Blues’ remarkable Champions League win. Villas-Boas appeared to have a difficult working relationship with senior players at the club, several of whom were only slightly younger than him. Ashley Cole went on to confirm in 2014 that AVB (right) had not had the complete backing of the Chelsea dressing room. Cole said: “There were some players who didn’t want to work hard for Villas-Boas. But as soon as Di Matteo arrived, that all changed.”
MAY 2012: Drogba revealed in his autobiography, ‘Commitment’, published in 2015, that the club’s Champions League win was inspired by decisions taken by the players, rather than manager Di Matteo. “The players really stepped up to take responsibility,” wrote the Ivorian. “The manager (Di Matteo) was telling Branislav Ivanovic to play centreback but Jose Bosingwa said: ‘No, no, I will play centre-back’, and carried on to say where he thought others should play. “‘I don’t care’, I remember saying. ‘I can play left-back if necessary. We don’t need a striker. I’ll play striker and left-back, whatever it takes’.” DECEMBER 2015: Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo confirms the club had to sack Jose Mourinho because of a “palpable discord” between him and his players. Mourinho was dismissed with the Blues 16th in the Premier League and just a point above the relegation zone – their worst start to a season since 1978. Following defeat days earlier at Leicester, Mourinho accused some of his players of “betraying his work”.