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Sacked

Going going gone: Villas Boas sacked by Chelsea

“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.” Said a statement from Chelsea.

CHELSEA HAVE THIS afternoon released a statement confirming the departure of manager, Andre Villas Boas, with immediate effect.

The decision to relieve the young coach of his duty comes less than 24 hours after the Blues fell to a 1-0 defeat to West Brom.

A statement on the club’s website read:

“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.”

Assistant manager, Roberto Di Matteo has been installed as caretaker manager until the end of the season, despite recent rumours that Rafael Benitez would be the man to take over.

Villas Boas, 34, greatly impressed in his first managerial job, winning the Europa League with FC Porto. However, since arriving at Chelsea he has failed to get the squad united behind him or achieve any consistent form.

As a result, the Portuguese coach has been under merciless scrutiny over recent months, but until recently remained confident he had the backing of Roman Abramovich to continue his work.

Consistent with the Russian owner’s form, no public statement was forthcoming and after yesterday’s defeat the man known affectionately as AVB honestly admitted to BBC Sport: “Every defeat piles more pressure on any Chelsea manager.”

“We don’t win enough and that does not make us proud.”

Chelsea’s statement continued:

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

“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.”

Chelsea face an FA Cup fifth round replay on Tuesday night against Birmingham. They currently lie in fifth place in the Premier League, a position which Villas Boas admitted was not good enough for Chelsea.

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