Desailly critical of timing of AVB sacking

Last updated : 09 March 2012 By AFP

Desailly said the Portuguese was not given a chance to show he was capable of running the club.

"I'm always disappointed when someone loses his job," the Chelsea legend, who is in Singapore for a visit, was quoted as saying in the Straits Times.

"But (the sacking of Villas-Boas) annoyed me because he did not have the possibility of expressing himself tactically," he added, describing the latest manager to face the axe from owner Roman Abramovich as "clever, brilliant."

Abramovich is searching for his eighth manager in five years after sacking Villas-Boas just 257 days into his turbulent reign at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese was sacked after a string of poor results which has left the west London club outside the top four and struggling to stay in the Champions League.

"Maybe Abramovich was too nervous and made a quick decision," said Desailly, a star of the 1998 World Cup-winning French side.

"Stability for a club is very important, especially for Chelsea. They can never be like Manchester (United) or Arsenal, where no matter what happens, you know the coach is going to remain," he said.

"You need peace for the coach."

Abramovich has spent millions on hiring star players and managers since buying the club in 2003, but the Russian billionaire's tendency to run Chelsea like any business may not be the right tactic in football, said Desailly.

"He's somebody who is capable and makes decisions, which is probably why every time he feels like there is something wrong with a coach, he will change him," Desailly said.

"In business, it has worked for him, but for sport, he's anticipating too much, too quickly."

Source: AFP

Source: AFP