CHELSEA players were in revolt against boss Andre Villas-Boas last night — BEFORE this Naples defeat.
Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien were dumped to the bench for daring to criticise AVB, even though he invited them to do so.
Villas-Boas held a clear-the-air meeting on Sunday where he asked them for honest opinions on their poor results.
Lampard and Essien were forthright in their views — but it was Cole who spoke out most strongly.
The England left-back told AVB, 'I came here to win medals and trophies, but I'm never going to do that with your tactics'.
Cole is also unhappy as he feels 'like a robot' with Villas-Boas telling him exactly how to play, rather than giving him freedom.
Chelsea's players were infuriated when their three team-mates were put on the bench for speaking out ahead of the Champions League last 16 clash.
The boss even told Cole 'you made it personal'.
England star Cole was further angered when he saw his manager on TV claiming that he had been left out over concerns that he was not fully fit.
Cole underwent gruelling extra fitness training and insisted he was 100 per cent ready to play.
And he made a mockery of AVB's claims when he was called into action after 12 MINUTES following an injury to Jose Bosigwa.
Villas-Boas was in no mood to discuss his team selection last night and insisted he would be in charge for the second leg.
He said: "I have full confidence from the owner. Manager for the second leg? Yes, for sure.
"It's a team selection, I can go on and explain but it makes no difference.
"It was based on what was fair at that moment, the best team."
When details of Chelsea's team sheet were revealed last night there was widespread disbelief.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said: "It has all the makings of managerial suicide."
Graeme Souness added: "If Cole is 90 per cent, he's still better than Bosingwa at 100 per cent."
AVB added: "The first 90 minutes have passed but we have another 90.
"We have the knowledge we can create problems. We created problems and can turn the tie around."