• Premier League

Sven would accept Chelsea offer

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 5, 2012
Sven-Goran Eriksson has managed the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard at international level © Getty Images
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Sven-Goran Eriksson feels Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had little option but to sack Andre Villas-Boas and says he would have no hesitation in taking the job if approached.

Chelsea finally lost patience with Villas-Boas at the weekend after the 1-0 defeat to West Brom left the club three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal; with the Blues also facing an uphill battle to remain in the Champions League after a first-leg 3-1 defeat to Napoli, Eriksson feels Abramovich had little option.

Asked if it had become the impossible job, Eriksson told Sky Sports News: "No, nothing is impossible, but this time I think it's understandable that something happened. I can understand it because Chelsea - they want to play in Europe next season and they are still in the FA Cup and still in the Champions League, so they have a lot to play for.

"I feel sorry for him, absolutely. It was his first year in English football and it was not easy for him, but I can understand it. If I were the owner, I would have been worried for the next few months. It's always very sad when losing a manager, especially after so little time at a club, but what do you do when you see things going not the way you want?"

It is thought that the senior players at Chelsea had a significant role in influencing the sacking but Eriksson, who has managed many of the squad during his time with England and Ivory Coast, has defended the players.

Asked about the likes of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba, he said: "They should be a power because of all the experience they have, but they are professionals. All of them. I know them - good guys, good professionals. Talking about the English players, the Ivory Coast players, they are extremely professional - all of them."

Chelsea made a much-publicised attempt to appoint Eriksson after Abramovich's arrival in 2003 and, as he is currently out of work after leaving big-spending Championship side Leicester in October, he could feasibly take charge of the club now or at the end of the season.

Eriksson would clearly welcome the opportunity to manage, though he expects caretaker Roberto Di Matteo to remain in charge until the summer. "I would take it of course but I doubt I will be offered it," he said. "They already have a manager until the end of the season. I guess that is a natural solution because he has been at the club now for the whole season.

"I don't know who will be the next manager. They have a lot of time to sort that out. I would guess that every manager in the world would accept Chelsea."

He added: "It's a huge job. It's one of the biggest you can find in this country - in the whole of Europe I would say."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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