It wasn't meant to be like this but then life rarely follows the script we hope to write for ourselves. Andre Villas Boas is quickly learning that. His dream job is fast becoming a nightmare from which he cannot wake. Last night's defeat to Napoli was a further descent into horror as Chelsea discovered, like Manchseter City before them, that Napoli are a force to reckoned with, especially when woeful defending is added to the mix.
Bereft of experience and leadership, Chelsea looked rudderless, cast adrift on a sea of insecurity, especially in defence. Villas Boas received bad news earlier in the day when John Terry was ruled out for up to eight weeks after aggravating his knee injury in training. The manager needed all his captain's experience last night but instead he had to make do with a suspect and inexperienced back four. Jose Bosingwa started in place of Ashley Cole but didn't last long. A hamstring injury forced him off after just 15 minutes and Cole, who didn't start because of his injury concerns, had to be brought on. His presence did little to quieten the pulse.
David Luiz has never convinced as a defender and his performance at the heart of the defence last night did nothing to change that opinion. He was nervy and unsteady and that insecurity spread to Gary Cahill. It was the new defender's first start in the Champions' League and his inexperience showed repeatedly. Branislav Ivanovic was wooden and one paced as usual. It wasn't a defence to pin your hopes on but it was all that the manager had.
Napoli started much the brighter of the teams and if it wasn't for the brilliance of Petr Cech in goal, Chelse could have found themselves two down within 15 minutes. As it was they found themselves leading, against the run of play. Juan Mata, the one player who has repeatedly demonstrated his talent and ability under Villas Boas management, was again the bright spark in blue. Cannavaro, Italy's World Cup winning captain, made a disastrous attempt to clear a low cross from Daniel Sturridge. He sliced the ball into the air and Mata was waiting to pounce. Mata showed a clamness and composure in finishing that his team mates clearly lacked all over the pitch.
Instead of calming their nerves the goal seemed to frighten Chelsea and they were clueless about how to hold onto the ball. What happened next was inevitable. Lavezzi, Hamsik and Cavani had been threatening to score since the start. Their movement and interplay was confusing Chelsea's inept defence and Cech had already made three top class saves to deny them. However there was nothing he could do about Lavezzi's curled shot into the corner for the equaliser.
The story, and the defending got even worse before half time. With two minutes of stoppage time played Cannavaro atoned for his earlier mistake. His cross from the right was met by Cavani, who got goal side of Ivanovic and steered the ball hope. There was a suggestion that he used his shoulder but the goal stood.
The nightmare continued in the second half. Napoli were in control of the tie and Chelsea lacked the guile or experience to fashion an equaliser. David Luiz, again was the architect of Chelsea's downfall for the third goal. His attempted clearance should have found row z but instead it rebounded off Cavani and with Cech caught in no man's land Cavani squared the ball to Lavezzi who could pick his spot in a gaping goal. Lampard came on with twenty minutes to play, the aging hero coming to the rescue one more time but that wasn't in the script this time. The horror story nearly got more gruesome for Villas Boas as Ashley Cole had to clear Cristiano Maggio's shot off the line.
Afterwards Villas Boas attempted to rewrite the script. Overturning a two goal deficit has only been achieved three times at this stage of the competition. He says Chelsea can make it four but it would take a massive twist in tale for that to happen. By the time the second leg is played his time at Chelsea could be over and the dream job just a memory, as rumours abound that Rafa Benitez is line to relieve Villas Boas from his torment.
Napoli's Hollywood mogul owner Aurelio De Laurentiis knows something of the melodrama but even he would think a happy ending to the story of Andre Villas Boas and Chelsea's adventure together is far fetched. For now Villas Boas' nightmare continues.