Andre Villas-Boas
has admitted his age and relative lack of experience make it
difficult for him to assert his authority over Chelsea's players,
with the Blues boss insisting he "could never be dictatorial" in
the dressing-room.
The pressure is mounting on Villas-Boas, with his side currently
12 points adrift of joint-Premier League leaders Manchester City
and Manchester United in fourth place.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich forked out more than £13
million in compensation to free the Portuguese manager from his
contract with Porto last summer, and his patience is clearly being
tested as the club grapples to stay on course for a Champions
League place.
The heat is certainly being turned up on Villas-Boas,
34, and the Chelsea boss admits he is struggling to take command of
a dressing room that is in desperate need of some strong
leadership.
"Because of my age and my lack of a professional
playing background, I could never be dictatorial," the Portuguese
coach was quoted as saying in the Daily Star. "I therefore
let the players have a certain amount of input into decisions
regarding the way we play and how the team is run.
"Also, when we talk about the well-being of a group, I
encourage the players to participate in the decisions affecting
their professional life. For example, at Porto I would discuss with
the players the starting time of the training or the need for rest
days.
"I try to be an open-minded leader and to respect
people. You must build a two-way relationship, even over any
decision-making about arrangements or actions in the game.
Naturally, as the coach I make the final decisions though and if I
have to upset a couple of people, then so be it."
Villas-Boas may still be finding his feet in English
football but he will be well aware he is unlikely to be afforded
the luxury of a season's settling-in period, particularly if they
fail to qualify for Europe's elite competition.
World Cup-winner Luiz Felipe Scolari was axed just
seven months into his reign at Stamford Bridge and afterwards
revealed he had found coping with the dressing-room politics
difficult - a battle Villas-Boas is becoming all too familiar
with.
"The players, of course, are always testing the manager
to find out what his weaknesses are," Villas-Boas added. "In the
first two or three weeks when you implement your ideas, they test
your leadership and your competence.
"It also depends on the way you come across, and if you
are able to sustain yourself through this period it can build the
basis that can take you forward.
"The disruption will come and that is a normal part of
the game because of the frustrations that players live with. We
have to remember that players are often under tremendous pressure.
The testing, if you cope, will strengthen your leadership position.
The game is so unpredictable, but the variables are influenced by
the team that wants it more.
"You need to have confidence and belief in what you do.
The players must be by your side, but ultimately it is the players'
talent that solves the match situations."
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