Things continued along these lines until Spurs manager Andres Villas-Boas made a number of tactical substitutions.
Ancelotti was fired and replaced mid-season by Andre Villas-Boas, who was then fired in March 2012.
FORBES: Have Chelsea Fans Become Spoiled By Their Billionaire Owner?
That was Real Madrid in 2010, and that was Jose Mourinho, Villas-Boas' former mentor.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Villas-Boas' self-belief is admirable, though statements like that don't exactly win points in the locker room.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Increasingly frustrated and isolated, Villas-Boas was sacked in early March after completing nearly 75% of the season.
FORBES: Why Villas-Boas Will Be Under More Pressure at Spurs Than Chelsea
Di Matteo has since been appointed Chelsea's permanent boss, while Villas-Boas has swapped one London club for another.
That's slightly better than Di Matteo's 52% in his 23 games in charge and his predecessor Andre Villas-Boas's 48%.
WSJ: Rafa Benitez Era at English Soccer's Chelsea a Mixed Bag
Villas-Boas ended American goalkeeper Brad Freidel's run of 310 straight league games by selecting French international signing Hugo Lloris.
Less than nine months ago, Villas-Boas was feted as a coaching wunderkind.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Chelsea are beaten away by West Brom and Andre Villas Boas is fired and replaced by Roberto Di Matteo.
Vertonghen becomes new Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas' second signing after Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who joined from Hoffenheim last week.
It was directed at the home team's manager, Andre Villas-Boas, when Chelsea was a goal down against its lower-division opponent.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Villas-Boas may have been appointed late, but he waited until deep into the summer to make his first significant signings.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Speculation was rife that Guardiola would head for England to coach either Villas-Boas's former club Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United.
Qualifying for Europe's top club competition next year looks vital not just to Villas-Boas' job prospects, but also to Chelsea's short-term future.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Villas-Boas knows all about the pressure at the highest level of management.
To make packaging more environmentally friendly, "the most obvious thing we can do is reduce the weight, " said Simon Hoffmeyer Boas, CSR manager.
CNN: Brewing giant Carlsberg's sustainability drive pays off
And Villas-Boas says he was shocked when Bayern announced Guardiola would take over from current coach, Jupp Heynckes, at the end of this season.
Tottenham, improving fast under new manager Andre Villas-Boas, built on their success at Old Trafford with a 2-0 home win over struggling Aston Villa.
There is a reset that occurs when Villas-Boas is sacked and Roberto Di Matteo takes over as the metric is calculated on a per-manager basis.
FORBES: Why Villas-Boas Will Be Under More Pressure at Spurs Than Chelsea
It was cruel for manager Andre Villas-Boas, his side achieving the highest points tally with 72 of a side not qualifying for the Champions League.
That triumph, overseen by Villas-Boas' successor at Stamford Bridge, former player Roberto Di Matteo, meant Chelsea took Tottenham's place by virtue of being crowned champions.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has called for Uefa to investigate alleged anti-Semitic chanting during Thursday's game against Lazio, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
There is no question that Villas-Boas has a sharp soccer mind.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Lampard remained an unused substitute but Chelsea's win more than justified Villas-Boas's decision to hand midfield responsibility to Ramires, Raul Meireles and impressive youngster Oriol Romeu.
It sealed a remarkable end to a difficult season in which Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas was sacked in March, just nine months after he arrived from Porto.
This is why Chelsea are looking to overhaul their squad this offseason, and why Villas-Boas was perhaps doomed to fail to meet expectations from day one at Chelsea.
FORBES: Why Villas-Boas Will Be Under More Pressure at Spurs Than Chelsea
This weekend, however, Villas-Boas looked a solitary figure as he crouched near the pitch while clad in the dark trenchcoat he reserves for storm-threatened days like this one.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
Villas-Boas put on a brave face after the Birmingham game, saying that he knew he had the "unconditional" support of the club's owner, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
WSJ: Andre Villas-Boas: The Collapse of a Coaching Wunderkind
应用推荐