‘The season is already over for Chelsea’ – Frank Leboeuf urges Andre Villas-Boas to focus on rebuilding squad
The former Blues defender believes that the Portuguese coach must start ring the changes at Stamford Bridge, but insists John Terry and Frank Lampard are key to success
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes that the season is 'already over' for the Blues and that manager Andre Villas-Boas must focus his attentions on rebuilding the squad in order to be competitive next year.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are currently 10 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League, and must get a result against an in-form Valencia side on Tuesday if they are to avoid being knocked out of the Champions League.
“Some players are at the end of the cycle and they really need to get rid of some players to buy new players and start a new generation, a new era,” Leboeuf told TalkSPORT.
“The [Jose] Mourinho era is over and if Villas-Boas wants to be the ‘Special Two’ he has to build a new generation.
“I think the season is already over for Chelsea.
“They have to go into transition this year. They have won the last two games and they still have some hopes but winning the title is going to be very, very hard and they really have to think about the future - and the future is next year.
“They can win the FA Cup but the goal for Chelsea is either winning the Premier League or the Champions League, and I don’t see them winning the Champions League.
“I support Chelsea like crazy, I hope they can do something, but you have to be realistic and I think this season will be a black season.”
The 43-year-old, who won the World Cup with France in 1998 during his five-year stint as a Chelsea player, believes that more players should follow Nicolas Anelka and Alex, who have both had transfer requests accepted, in leaving the west London club.
When asked which squad members could be cut, Leboeuf suggested: “Maybe [Florent] Malouda, [Salomon] Kalou, [Jose] Bosingwa, and [Jon] Obi Mikel.”
However, he warned against ever losing hold of John Terry and Frank Lampard, arguing that the Blues need an English spine.
“I belonged to a Chelsea team who had 17 different nationalities but our two main guys were Graeme Le Saux and Dennis Wise and we were happy to have some English guys in the team,” the ex-Marseille centre-back continued.
“You have to keep the spirit and for me they are the symbols of Chelsea and England.
“Getting rid of John Terry and Frank Lampard would be a big mistake. They belong to Chelsea forever.”
The former Blues defender believes that the Portuguese coach must start ring the changes at Stamford Bridge, but insists John Terry and Frank Lampard are key to success
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes that the season is 'already over' for the Blues and that manager Andre Villas-Boas must focus his attentions on rebuilding the squad in order to be competitive next year.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are currently 10 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League, and must get a result against an in-form Valencia side on Tuesday if they are to avoid being knocked out of the Champions League.
“Some players are at the end of the cycle and they really need to get rid of some players to buy new players and start a new generation, a new era,” Leboeuf told TalkSPORT.
“The [Jose] Mourinho era is over and if Villas-Boas wants to be the ‘Special Two’ he has to build a new generation.
“I think the season is already over for Chelsea.
“They have to go into transition this year. They have won the last two games and they still have some hopes but winning the title is going to be very, very hard and they really have to think about the future - and the future is next year.
“They can win the FA Cup but the goal for Chelsea is either winning the Premier League or the Champions League, and I don’t see them winning the Champions League.
“I support Chelsea like crazy, I hope they can do something, but you have to be realistic and I think this season will be a black season.”
The 43-year-old, who won the World Cup with France in 1998 during his five-year stint as a Chelsea player, believes that more players should follow Nicolas Anelka and Alex, who have both had transfer requests accepted, in leaving the west London club.
When asked which squad members could be cut, Leboeuf suggested: “Maybe [Florent] Malouda, [Salomon] Kalou, [Jose] Bosingwa, and [Jon] Obi Mikel.”
However, he warned against ever losing hold of John Terry and Frank Lampard, arguing that the Blues need an English spine.
“I belonged to a Chelsea team who had 17 different nationalities but our two main guys were Graeme Le Saux and Dennis Wise and we were happy to have some English guys in the team,” the ex-Marseille centre-back continued.
“You have to keep the spirit and for me they are the symbols of Chelsea and England.
“Getting rid of John Terry and Frank Lampard would be a big mistake. They belong to Chelsea forever.”
請按此登錄後留言。未成為會員? 立即註冊