Conflicts between players and coaches are far from rare in professional football, but how can these relationships spiral out of control? And would some players take delight in a coach’s struggles?
The nature of football means that even the most successful and trusted coaches are unlikely to have the full support of the entire playing staff.
The reasons for this may vary, from the most obvious of being left out of the team, to differing philosophies on how the game should be played.
If you are winnin,g these issues can be overcome; lose and these can become terminal.
The current predicament that Andre Villas Boas finds himself in at Chelsea is very much one where the way he wants his team to play is being severely undermined by results.
Decisions like the one to relegate club legend Frank Lampard to the substitutes bench are hard to justify when performances are as poor.
However, this is far from the only problem the Portuguese has faced.
Having been appointed to overhaul an ageing playing squad and implement a fast paced attacking brand of football his job was never likely to be easy. When early struggles became apparent Villas Boas changed his tactics.
Results improved initially but have since dropped off raising the question of whether the change damaged his authority? Perhaps, but his predicament offered him little either way, win and players wishes appear to have overridden the philosophy of the coach, or continue with what was not working and he will be open to criticism of being inflexible and players will continue to lose confidence in him.
If he had no philosophy this would not matter but the Chelsea Boss has a very strong view on how the game should be played and this is central to his ability as a coach, take it away and his authority is undermined.
The first season of Ange Postecoglou’s rein at Brisbane Roar presented very similar problems to Villas Boas but he stuck to his philosophy despite doubts from some of the playing squad and emerged as a much stronger coach.
The backing Postecoglou received from the clubs hierarchy made this possible, whereas Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich’s track record of dispensing with managers allows the players to go against the manager as there is every likelihood he will be sacked.
This raises the interesting question of whether a player would endeavour to get a coach the sack.
In recent days, sections of the media on the UK have made the comment that some of the Chelsea players would be taking delight in Villas Boas struggles.
This is doubtful but there is a growing sense of a players versus coach dynamic emerging, with Villas Boas remarking that it is not important that all the players believe in his ‘project.’
When the divide between players and coach emerges success is rarely likely. I have played in teams where the coach has turned on the players, in some cases rightly so, but when they take no responsibility themselves the relationship can break down quickly.
When things are going wrong a sense of togetherness and faith in a common belief is essential to turn things around. If the coach is unable to create such a feeling there is little chance of form improving.
This is not to lay all the blame on the coach, players can easily lose perspective.
The all consuming nature of professional football makes it easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and neglect the amazing opportunity you have by getting absorbed in unimportant issues.
However, this not an excuse as the club must always come first and power battles are never going to be in the interests of the club.
A coach can lose the dressing room and hard decisions on his future have to be taken, but there is plenty that both players and coaches can do to ensure this does not happen.
The key to this is results, but a shared sense of responsibility is just as important.
Follow me on Twitter @beaubusch
Roarchild
Guest
He's not comparing very well to Arsene Wenger. Wenger came to the EPL from the J League and before non British managers had done much in the league. Yet he was able to work with Adams, Keown, Dixon and Winterburn etc to get results straight away. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Swampy
Guest
I think AVB showed some stubbornness or blind faith in his system today. Napoli are the toughest of nuts to crack at their crumbling old fortress. One that contains the souls of a million supporters who have come and gone. Having gone 1-0 up away from home, why enforce style of open play rather than parking the bus and winning or at least drawing? It's not like the Napoli blue print of needing space and counter attacking isn't known to every club in Europe since they played Man City. AVB either showed a lack of sense in the task at hand or complete incompetence. It's one thing to laud the past achievements of the man but the evidence right now is that he may not be up to it. The argument of 'losing the dressing room' undermines the fact that the players at Chelsea are in fact far more experienced than their manager. The senior players in this instance have every right to be concerned about their manager. This should not be lost in the argument. Performances like today just serve to justify their own opinions (while partly self fulfilling mind you). There is only 2 options at Chelsea going forward - a) a complete cleanout of the old; or b) sack AVB. If comparing AVB with Postecoglou at the Roar, Ange was afforded option a). It was easier as in the A-League there is such little history. I'm not sure Roman and his minions will be able to take option a) without causing a riot in West London. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Axelv
Guest
Problem is, for every Ange Postecoglou, you will get 10 Rini Coolen's, hard to know what's what without committing the club too far down a dark road!
Griffo
Roar Guru
Another great article, Beau. I have no doubt that Villas-Boas is a great coach and could take Chelsea forward again if given the time. Recent press and comments from Villas-Boas seem to indicate that perhaps some comment of intent and support of Villas-Boas is now needed from Chelsea hierarchy to allow a refocus on improving and rebuilding the squad. As Postecoglou has said, and I'm sure the case was the same at FC Porto for Villas-Boas, results help to underline a coaches mandate but having the full support of the board or club president to do what you want to do without interference goes a long way. So a question then Beau: Would a club board representative/president/owner word of support (for the coach) in the dressing room go some way towards sorting the conflict in the dressing room? I don't deny that some coaches would not want this, but wonder at whether it would help some players in the shed to refocus on the bigger picture and do what is right for the team and club.
apaway
Guest
"This raises the interesting question of whether a player would endeavour to get a coach the sack." Beau, I don't think one individual player could achieve this but without doubt a collective of players can, and have, initiated the sacking of a coach/manager. You only have to read or watch "The Damned United" to get an understanding of how players can lead to a coach's demise. In the stated case, Brian Clough was undermined by the high profile Leeds United players because those players had been at the club longer, and had the ear of the board more so than the manager did. It's rumoured the same thing happened with Roy Evans at Liverpool and the infamous "Spice Boys" clique. Sometimes players do this to protect their own personal interests (ie, their starting position). Sometimes they do it because they are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the club. The AVB case at Chelsea is interesting as I liken it to the issue Ange Postecoglou faced at the Roar. In the Chelsea case, it has been reported that Roman Abramovich has brought Villas-Boas in to initiate a "generational change" at Stamford Bridge. The problem with phasing out stars like Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba etc is that there needs to be players of the same quality or at least potential to replace them. EPL fans and owners are not known for their patience.
Roarchild
Guest
Despite all that money that went into Chelsea I ever found them a great team to watch, though I couldn't help but watch Drogba in awe. Ange got an off season which was crucial t is going to be tough for Villas Boas to get there but I hope he does and we such a much more entertaining Chelsea next year.