Chelsea FC News: 8 Reasons Andre Villas-Boas Will Succeed at Stamford Bridge

Andre Villas-Boas, already dubbed the “new Mourinho,” is about to step into the hottest seat in English football as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement.

This move will have come as a shock to the majority of Blues fans who were poised and ready to welcome Guus Hiddink back for his second spell as manager.

But, speaking as a fan of the club, I fully agree with this bold decision from the Russian oligarch.

Villas-Boas has several key circumstances in his favor and this could finally be the season where Chelsea make their mark on the "Holy Grail" of European football—the Champions League.

Here are 10 reasons why the former Porto manager is bound to succeed in a job where so many of his predecessors have failed. 

Roman Abramovich's Millions

Roman Abramovich's growing discontent at the lack of a Champions League victory becomes more apparent by the year.

With that in mind, there are indications that Roman wants to spend big again.

He has already splashed the cash on David Luiz and Fernando Torres, and it does not look as though this new spending spree will stop there.

Sergio Aguero, Gregory Van der Wiel, Neymar, Javier Pastore, Samir Nasri and Luka Modric have already been linked with the Blues this summer.

When one takes into account Abramovich's financial clout, it seems very unlikely that Chelsea fans will experience a quiet transfer window.

Freedom in the Transfer Market

With Abramovich’s billions behind him, Villas Boas can afford to raid the transfer market for fresh talent, sparking a new era for Chelsea.

Just like Mourinho brought the likes of Carvalho, Drogba and Robben with him, Villas Boas can pick and choose from the cream of Europe’s crop.

He needs to be assertive in the transfer market and cannot be bullied by Abramovich in the same way his predecessors were.

The interest shown in Radamel Falcao and Joao Moutinho, and rumors of a raid on Villas-Boas' former stomping ground, indicate that the new manager has more of a say in transfer policy than Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian's evident disapproval of the Torres signing may have contributed to his eventual downfall.

Villas-Boas, on the other hand, should be given the opportunity to pick and choose players that fit into his fluid attacking system. 

Attacking Football Philosophy

While Villas-Boas' background holds similarities with that of Jose Mourinho, his footballing philosophy is diametrically opposed to his former mentor.

Mourinho's main priority has always been the grinding out of results, with emphasis on defense and a rigid structure.

Villas-Boas is a well-known advocate of the short passing style employed by Barcelona; his Porto side never lacked attacking creativity.

The wealth of talent available at Stamford Bridge means that Villas-Boas' tactics will be sure to produce both results and a new brand of attacking football.  

Winning Mentality

There is no denying that Andre Villas-Boas is a winner.

He has shown that in his one full season in management by winning the treble with FC Porto.

But he did not just win the Superliga, the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League—he did it with a style and panache that Portuguese football has not witnessed since Jose Mourinho.

The 33-year-old learned his craft at the knee of the “Special One” himself. He also learned from another managerial great, the late Sir Bobby Robson.

The confidence with which Villas-Boas carries himself will surely translate to his new players. A winning mentality will be inspired.

Job Security

The amount of money already invested in Villas-Boas and the length of contract he has been given, suggest that the Portuguese will have more security than his predecessors.

Many people considered his hiring a risk—it has already proven an expensive gamble.

Abramovich will be far more reluctant to pull the trigger if results do not go Chelsea's way at first.

What Chelsea need is a young manager capable of building a new dynasty at Stamford Bridge, and Villas Boas fits the bill perfectly.

Chelsea have produced some decent youngsters in the Abramovich era, helped of course by former sporting director Frank Arnesen, but the club has failed miserably in establishing them as first-team regulars in the way Arsenal and Manchester United have done with the likes of Jack Wilshere and Jonny Evans.

The reason? Well, one is that Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have been given long-term contracts and are assured of their future. They can afford to experiment with youth and not worry about the sack if results don't go their way.

Villas-Boas' tender age and his obvious dynastic advantage mean that he needs to be given that same job security and the confidence to take risks without fearing the consequences.

Fernando Torres

This season will be vital for Fernando if he is to pay back Chelsea fans and management for the faith shown in him.

He has shown glimpses of what he is capable of. A long rest period, followed by the incentive of playing under a new manager, should bring out the best in Torres.

The main reason for his goal drought was a shortage of fitness and confidence. Both of these should come with a sharp preseason and a manager that relishes the challenge of nursing him back to goalscoring health.

Torres' form could make or break Chelsea's chances of success and I have no doubt that Villas-Boas' meticulous research will be channelled towards finding the best formation for El Niño to thrive in. 

New Manager Syndrome

It is almost an exact science in football that when a new manager comes in, the players will respond in a positive fashion—at least at first.

The presence of a new manager with no preconceptions is the equivalent of a clean slate for those that were never popular with the old regime.

Everyone in a Chelsea shirt will be out to prove himself to Villas-Boas, vying for a first-team place and doing his utmost to impress the new man.

This should lead to a new determination and a hunger that was lacking under Ancelotti, who rarely changed his system or lineup.

The introduction of Villas-Boas will keep the squad on their toes. A string of fantastic results would increase his honeymoon period at Stamford Bridge.