On Thursday, Andre Villas-Boas warned Gary Cahill that he must sign with Chelsea soon or else the Blues will find someone else.
It was a brilliant move.
By passively calling out Cahill, Villas-Boas was able to put pressure on the England international, demonstrate that Chelsea's trying to make a move and show that Villas-Boas is prepared for either outcome.
Villas-Boas has been under immense amounts of pressure this season. Things haven't gone perfect, which have had some people even calling for his head.
While that's ridiculous, Villas-Boas should shoulder some of the blame. He is trying to play a style that isn't fit for his roster, and the tension between the old guard and the new guard has been evident.
Roman Abramovich knew what type of manager they were bringing in, but he probably imagined that Villas-Boas would be a little more flexible.
He has finally made some changes here and there, but Chelsea still sit at a distant fourth in the league.
By addressing the Cahill situation publicly, Villas-Boas makes it clear that the situation rests on Cahill's decision. If the deal falls through, it won't be because Villas-Boas didn't do enough.
His passive-aggressive addressing of the situation was cheeky, but if the deal doesn't work, it will clearly be Cahill's doing.
Secondly, this quote shows that Villas-Boas is serious about making a move. He understands Chelsea needs to make some changes, so he is addressing it.
Stamford Bridge is no fun without some rumours flowing in the transfer window. However, Villas-Boas knows that it can turn into a circus quickly, which is why he's addressing the defender issue right away.
Fans want to see some transfers. It is now clear that Villas-Boas is doing everything in his power to make a move happen.
More importantly, Villas-Boas is prepared.
If Cahill decides to turn down Chelsea, Villas-Boas will simply make another move. He seems very nonchalant about it, which puts even more pressure on Cahill.
Whether it's a bluff or not, this ploy makes Villas-Boas look like a relaxed businessman. Cahill is the No. 1 option, which should flatter him. If he still doesn't want to become a Blue, he won't be missed.
Villas-Boas called out Cahill. It was subtle, but he definitely put Cahill on the spot.
It was a great ploy.
Cahill is now the one under pressure, Chelsea appear ready to make some changes and Villas-Boas looks calm and collected.
It may not bring the Bolton defender to Chelsea, but Villas-Boas' move has already worked.
No comments:
Post a Comment