Why Meireles, Luiz can wreck Chelsea’s comeback

The ghost of Jose Mourinho hung so heavily over Stamford Bridge that no manager after him was really allowed to settle.
That had much to do with the players that The Special One made special during his very successful reign at Chelsea.

Now, the ghost of another Chelsea manager is doing the same. Only this manager was a flop. And did not last eight months.

However, the players he backed are threatening to derail Chelsea’s amazing revival under caretaker coach Roberto Di Matteo.
It was the Latin American connection that was still speaking out in favour of sacked coach Portuguese Andre Villas-Boas.

After The Sun exclusively revealed in a report last week that Portugal international Raul Meireles was set to quit Chelsea, the Blues’ Brazilian centre back David Luiz  speaking to Brazilian TV has said Andre Villas-Boas should have been given more time at Chelsea.

The Brazilian defender and Meireles was both close to AVB and enjoyed working for the former Porto boss.

Both Luiz and Meireles face a fight for their permanent places in the squad from the Chelsea old guard that has found its feet again and orchestrated an amazing fghtback against Napoli to progress in the Champions League.

The only Premier League club in the last eight now.

Luiz, 24, said: "I'm really sad, as Andre was a really capable professional. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to show his true value at Chelsea.

"He didn't have the chance. You cannot doubt a professional like him, who won five titles last season and was feted by everyone. But he didn't have enough time at Chelsea."

Chelsea has often suffered because of players speaking out against the path the club was taking and it has taken its toll in the recent past.

This could now start another spat with the old boys – Drogba, Lampard, Terry and Essein on one side and the AVB hangovers – Meireles, Luiz, and Fernando Torres on the other.

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