The knives are already out for Chelsea’s young manager Andre Villas-Boas after just four months in the west London hot seat after yesterdays’ result.  Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League matches.  But AVB confidently deflected post-match questions that he is now under extreme pressure and insisted he was still in favour with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich & that together they were still working on long-term plans.  Though away from the media I would be surprised if Andre Villas-Boas isn’t looking over his shoulder, especially following the news last week that Guus Hiddink is now interested in a move back to Chelsea where his short reign as caretaker manager was heralded by all as a great success, culminating in Chelsea winning the FA Cup for some time now.

I see Hiddink being offered a ‘Director of Football’ type role, where he would effectively be on standby, ready to take over the reins if AVB becomes the latest manager to come and go as Roman Abramovich continues to crave instant success.

Liverpool are now joint fourth place, level on points with Chelsea ahead of Tottenham’s game tonight at home to Aston Villa.  The game will see the welcome return of Harry Redknapp after minor heart surgery.  If Chelsea end the year in such a position that Champions League qualification is not looking likely, I believe AVB will be sacked.

Less than one full season into his contract, Aston Villa has parted company with Gerard Houllier who was hospitalised before the end of last season. That said, I felt Houllier was about to get the sack anyway and expected Rafa Benitez, who has been loitering around since returning to his family home in England in January, to become the next Aston Villa manager.

But Fulham boss Mark Hughes is the bookies favourite for the job. This follows rumours that Hughes has recently fallen out with Fulham owner Mohammed Al- Fayed and that he has a get-out clause in his contract. But yesterday I heard that ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated that he would like to stay in England rather than return to Italy. I am sure both parties would be interested in Ancelotti becoming the next manager of Aston Villa.

The other manager-less Premier League team, Chelsea look like they are closing in on their first choice to replace Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge, as Guus Hiddink has apparently stated he is ready to leave his current position coaching the Turkey national team, to return to club management. If there is any truth in this statement then I would expect Hiddink to be the next Chelsea manager by next week.

Guus Hiddink to Chelsea & Carlo Ancelotti to Aston Villa is my bet.

The appointments of a Chelsea and Aston Villa manager will be followed by what I believe will be a busy summer for transfers in the English Premier League. Chelsea desperately need to buy some younger players and begin to build a team around striker Fernando Torres. While Manchester City will be throwing a lot of money around again, only in this transfer window they will be able to attract the very best players in the world with Champions League football next season.

When Roman Abramovich last needed help he called on then Russia manager Guus Hiddink but was unable to persuade the highly rated and very experienced Dutch manager to take on the Chelsea manager role on a full-time basis even after winning the FA Cup in his short spell as caretaker manager.

Hiddink is now manager of Turkey and is once again under contract.  Personally, I think Hiddink enjoys national team management more than the day-to-day routine of club management.  He will never be short of offers after successful roles with Holland, South Korea, Australia and Russia.  So I believe Chelsea will need to look elsewhere.

Surprisingly Harry Redknapp has become the favourite with many bookmakers over the past day or so.  This comes with the news that Real Madrid appear to have patched up any differences with Jose Mourinho, counting him out of any immediate return to Stamford Bridge.

Other favourites include former Holland striker and manager Marco Van Basten and Andrea Villa-Boas who last week won the Europa League as manager of Porto.

Van Basten did not set the world alight with his previous managerial roles for Ajax or Holland.  But Andrea Villa-Boas could fit the bill.  He has been dubbed the new Jose Mourinho and apparently according to one report, topped the list of managers Liverpool fans wanted to replace Roy Hodgson before King Kenny Dalglish was ushered in.

Like Jose Mourinho, Andrea Villa-Boas worked under Bobby Robson.  Robson appointed him to Porto’s observation department. He is only 33, never made it as a professional football player and is the youngest manager to win a European title.  He speaks fluent English, would no doubt be ready for a big money move to Chelsea, and I assume is highly regarded by Mourinho who he also worked under at Porto.  The main drawbacks are his age and lack of experience (he only became Porto manager in June 2010).

I’m sure plenty of out-of-work managers would be only too pleased to take the position at Chelsea where they would be faced with the option of winning the Champions League or face the sack with a large pay-off.  And the more I think about it, the more I can see Harry Redknapp actually being interested in the position.  Though he appears to have a good working relationship with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and is building a good team with a great future at Spurs, they are currently unable to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City when it comes to spending power.

Would Harry Redknapp be content with a crack at winning the Premier League and Champions League next season knowing a move to Chelsea would be a risk?  I think he would.  And if Chelsea cannot tempt Guus Hiddink to become Chelsea manager in the next couple of weeks, I think we will see a serious approach to tempt Harry Redknapp to cross from North to West London.

This morning in stark contrast to the 1990 World Cup squad, the England team arrived at Heathrow and were taken away in blacked out taxis.  There was no fanfare, no flag waving, no vuvuzelas, and absolutely no cheering fans to welcome back our so-called ‘golden generation’.

England’s impeccable results in qualifying for the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals was impressive and heightened any expectations of how well England would fare.  And it wasn’t only madmen and their dogs that were blowing vuvuzela-style trumpets suggesting England could actually win the 2010 World Cup.  Respectable members of the media were serious in their support that England had a very good chance to show the world how to play football.

Not only did England fail to win the World Cup again, they were absolutely appalling in the process.  Four games, two goals and one player out of 23 that can honestly say he didn’t play shit!

Put it this way, if I had been asked as a Premier League football team scout to report on the England players I would have said only Ashley Cole was worth signing.  The others have absolutely no chance of making a dent in Blackpool’s squad.

So, what went wrong?  Whether it comes out that Fabio Capello’s strict regime that worked so well in the qualifying games and appeared to bring the superstars back down to earth, was not appropriate for a group of players on tour with egos as big and as soft as ostrich eggs; or the players are just not good enough will I’m sure be aired over the next few weeks.

What is clear is that when the pressure is on in a tournament situation, especially when England play teams with equal or better football ability they result to panicking, squabbling, selfish play and dysfunctional hoofing of the ball.

When Fabio Capello became England manager he inherited a squad of players that were picked on their names and reputations rather than their current form and ability.  Capello said no players were guaranteed a place in his England squad; and only fit players that were playing regularly and in form would be chosen to play for England.  Fabio Capello also put an end to sloppy dressing and bad manners.  Flip flops were banned, as were games consoles and leaving the dinner table before everyone had finished.

This, we all agreed was exactly what these overpaid prima donnas needed; and moreover it appeared to be working.  So why, just weeks before the 2010 South Africa World Cup did Fabio Capello coax Jamie Carragher out of international retirement after a poor season with Liverpool, and allegedly guarantee a place in the final 23 man squad to a virtual cripple, only for him to get injured after 30 minutes!?

Furthermore, why did he include three players in the initial 30 man squad that had an excellent Premier League season – Adam Johnson, Scott Parker and Michael Dawson – only to leave them out of the final squad, without even playing two of them?

I’m fully aware that England strikers praise Emille Heskey but hew-haw hee-haw hee always plays like a donkey; and Capello picked him even though Martin O’Neill doesn’t feel he’s good enough to be a first-team regular for Aston Villa.

The FA have said they will take two weeks to consider whether Fabio Capello should remain England manager or they should cut their losses and admit this was another expensive disaster.

So, if the FA sacked Fabio Capello who is there that is able to take England further than Capello and Sven Goran Erikkson before him? (Let’s just completely forget about the wally with a brolly!)

The usual suspects are going to line-up when the media backs the cry for an Englishman.  Harry Redknapp will allow the team to pick itself again and does anyone honestly want Sam Allardyce’s  toe-punting hit and run style of football?  I don’t think so.  So if not Capello, who is there?

Personally I would like Fabio Capello to continue at the helm unless the FA can lure the only man I think that could win the World Cup as England manager – Guus Hiddink.   If Hiddink doesn’t want the job then tell Capello to go for youth rather than celebrity status millionaires; and have a clause added to his contract – no invalids, no old has-beens, no playing players out of position, and no flare players without flare – all for one and one for all!

Zhirkov becomes Carlo Ancelotti’s first signing for Chelsea, announced on the day that the Italian officially takes his new position with the club.

While Zhirkov is considered a natural left back for his country, he is very capable of playing in midfield and that’s perhaps where Ancelotti is expecting to play the Russian, after saying “Zhirkov is naturally on the left. I think he can do all the work and play in defence and in between.”

I think that is the Italian’s way of saying the player is a left sided utility player, but maybe Chelsea have just landed a one man football machine!

It is apparent that four managers in two seasons has affected stability on the field.  Moving forward, its about time Chelsea realised stability off the field is the key.  Arsenal and Manchester United lead the way with Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson being ‘untouchables’ , while this season Liverpool has given Rafa Benitez the chance to remain at Anfiled for the foreseeable future, too.

Guus Hiddink once again underlined his world class credentials with only one defeat in 20 games as Chelsea’s caretaker manager.  But now he is preoccupied with getting Russia to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, Chelsea must look for a long term replacement if they are to return to the dizzy heights they tasted with Jose Mourinho; and Carlo Ancelotti looks to be on his way to Stamford Bridge after he terminated his position as Manager with AC Milan yesterday by mutual consent, a position he has held for the past eight years.

Apparently Chelsea wanted to announce Ancelotti last night but there was a last minute snag, allegedly to do with which coaching staff Ancelotti is able to bring with him.

Will Carlo Ancelotti be successful at Chelsea?

Carlo Ancelotti has proven he is as great a manager as he was a player.  He has taken AC Milan to three European Champions League Finals and won two. He has proven he can manage over inflated egos and a squad of players who believe they should be playing every week.  But though there is 10 languages spoken in the Chelsea squad, it is English they speak to each other on the training ground and on the football pitch.

Ancelotti will need to learn English and this may be the reason why Chelsea aren’t too keen in Ancelotti bringing his own coaching staff to London, assuming they all speak Italian too.

This time last year Chelsea were courting another great manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari because Roman Abramovich wanted Chelsea to play more exciting, attacking football.  Allegedly the board of directors wanted Mark Hughes to replace Avram Grant, but Abramovich got his way.

Not only is the Chelsea job a difficult one because they want instant success, its owner appears to frequently change his mind.  The reason Jose Mourinho was sacked was due to the boring, negative way Chelsea won games under his management, so they employed a manager who played exciting cavalier style football with Brazil and Portugal.  One year on and they are about to employ another manager who builds his teams on solid defences, and isn’t opposed to the odd boring 1-0 win.

Before Saturday’s FA Cup victory, an article in the press quoted John Terry as suggesting the new manager would need money to buy new players.  This is true, but was this a dissenting voice opposing Roman Abramovich’s lack of investment in the past couple of seasons?

David Villa and Frank Ribery have already been linked to Chelsea and they won’t come cheap.  But after eight years with AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti is used to spending big money on big players, so I’m sure he would have been offered a large sum of money, if he is to take the Chelsea manager’s job.  Speculative reports in this morning’s newspapers range from £50 – £100 million summer spending money.  I think that depends on who leaves Chelsea.

Carlo Ancelotti is about to be announced as the new Chelsea manager, the fifth in two years.  What is most apparent is that he will need to be given time as much as money to build a team to win the Premier League and Champions League.

The pre-match hope and scarf waving at the Emirates Stadium lasted 11 minutes. Two goals in two minutes from Man Utd and the game was over.  Manchester United were stronger in every way and absolutely destroyed Arsenal.

When Ronaldo scored a trademark second goal to make the aggregate score 3-0, the animated close up of Arsene Wenger hiding his face in his hands told the whole story.  United were on fire, as Rooney and Ronaldo were simply unstoppable.

The game ended 3-1 with second half goals from Ronaldo and Robin Van Persie from the penalty spot, after Darren Fletcher was penalised for a last ditch challenge on Cesc Fabregas.  The challenge was a good one and if anything it was Fabregas’ reaction and accentuated fall that got Darren Fletcher the red card which means he will now miss the UEFA Champions League Final on Wednesday 27th May.

Manchester United will play Barcelona in the final after they managed an equalising goal in the 92nd minute in a game of few opportunities and plenty of appalling referee decisions.

Michael Essien had put Chelsea ahead in the 8th minute but they always needed the safety of a second goal as one goal for Barcelona would be enough for the Catalan team to go through on the away goal rule.

Chelsea felt they had four clear penalty appeals.  after seeing several replays I feel they really only have a case with two.  In a post match interview Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said he couldn’t understand why Chelsea were not awarded three penalties.

John Terry said there were six or seven penalty appeals (not sure about that, John!)  and the semi-final was a shambles due to an inexperienced referee.  That I agree with.  Unfortunately, he went on to say he was “fully behind Didier Drogba for the way he reacted.”

The way Drogba reacted after the final whistle was not acceptable. Pointing a finger in the face of the referee after storming back onto the pitch from the dressing room and spitting obscenities directly into a live tv camera is not the way to behave.

What is clear is that such big occasions deserve referees with bags of experience; and though it seems totally injust, Manchester United v Barcelona is possible the UEFA Champions League final that all neutrals would have wished for.

Tonight Manchester United take a 1-0 advantage to the Emirates Stadium to face an inform Arsenal.  The good news for Arsenal is they can be confident of beating Man Utd, especially with the return of first choice striker, Robin Van Persie. They won 2-1 last November in their Premier League encounter. The bad news is that I can’t see Manchester United not scoring themselves.

Arsenal were really fortunate to only lose by one goal at bin the 1st leg, but their failure to score the all important away goal will, I believe be their undoing.

A similar fate awaits Chelsea when favourites Barcelona visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow night, following a 0-0 1st leg at the Nou Camp last Tuesday.

Chelsea managed to keep a clean sheet due to Guus Hiddink’s tactical genius, but that means, if Barca score tomorrow night, Chelsea will need to score twice.

Barcelona face Chelsea after they humiliated Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday with a 6-2 thrashing at the Bernabieu Stadium.  I’m not sure this shock result will concern Chelsea or Guus Hiddink as they were already fully aware of the attacking prowess of Messi, Eto’o and Henry. It is nothing but a timely reminder of the size of the task ahead.

Like Arsenal, Chelsea will need to score.  That will open both games up and at times, leave space for a counter-attack; and if there were two teams that are likely to punish a team with a quick attack it is Man Utd and Barcelona.

There was an obvious game plan in the first leg for Chelsea to stop the quick inter-passing ‘give and go’ attacking football of Barca.  It worked, but Chelsea had to hold on.  Can Chelsea beat Barcelona tomorrow night?  That depends on whether Barcelona have a plan b, and whether Chelsea can nulify the best looking attack in the world while being an attacking threat, themselves. That is a big ask.

I am hoping for goals and exciting free-flowing football in both games.I really can’t see Manchester United not going through. But I think Chelsea are going to have to play out of the skins to create a repeat of last year’s UEFA Champions League final.

The three-pronged attack of Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi were closely monitored, and each attack was dealy with in a most professional manner.

Special praise must go to Jose Boswinga who was given the daunting task to man-mark Lionel Messi.  John Terry and Alex stood strong and Petr Cech continued to regain his confidence with a commanding performance including several great blocks.

The game had spice and fiery tackles, and threatened to spill over in both halves; and at one point there appeared to be a competition between Dani Alves and Didier Drogba to see who could fall over and fake injury the most!

Chelsea were playing a more conservative game than normal, even replacing Frank Lampard with the more defensive former Barcelona midfielder, Juliano Belletti with 20 minutes to go.

Hiddink’s game plan appeared to be counter-attack with caution.  Cheslea only had one good chance which fell to Drogba at te end of the first-half.  A defensive mistake left Drogba one-on-one with the goalkeeper.  But Valdes managed to block two shots from the inform striker.

Chelsea managed to keep Barcelona within reach for the second leg but were unable to score a vital away goal.  The second leg is at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday; a game where both teams will need to score to avoid a penalty shoot-out.  Chelsea will still need to be disciplined but by pushing forward in the search for a goal, the three-prong attack of Barcelona, possibly the best attack in the world, will get more space and more chances to score, what would be a vital away goal.

The game is set up for another great encounter.  But I’m not sure that this result has left Chelsea in the driving seat.

This season Chelsea had to overcome Liverpool in the quarter-finals to set up another encounter with Barcelona, and tonight, the stage is set for another epic encounter.  With Barcelona apparently playing the best pass and move ‘Brazilian style’ football in the world right now, against a Chelsea team that has regained its ‘never say die’ attitude of a few seasons ago, under the leadership of Guus Hiddink, it promises to be a great game of football.

I am looking forward to seeing Lionel Messi, as I believe he is the most naturally talented player in the world.  Due to Ashley Cole’s suspension it looks like Chelsea will switch Jose Boswinga from right to left back in an attempt to stop Messi. But with the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry to contend with, Barcelona will cause offensive problems for Chelsea however they line up.

I believe it is inevitable that Chelsea will concede goals at the Nou Camp, and their best line of defence will be to attack Barca and hope to score at least one vital away goal.

A score draw is the best chance I give Chelsea tonight.  But Barca thrashed Bayern Munich in the last round.

As long as they are still in touching distance come the second leg at Stamford Bridge, they will have a chance of reaching the UEFA Champions League Final, setting up the second all-England final (which will piss off Michel Platini) and make amends for last year’s final defeat.

I predict 2-1 to Barcelona in a fiery, fast and furious game of football.