Source: SKY_Sports
Big Sam eyes better times
Sam Allardyce is determined to continue to repay Blackburn's faith in him after they gave him the chance to restore his reputation as a top-flight boss.
The 54-year-old made his top-flight managerial name by first establishing unfancied Bolton in the Premier League, and then taking the Trotters into Europe.
When the lure of the big-time came calling, Allardyce jumped ship to Newcastle but was cast aside after eight months.
Smarting from the blow, Allardyce worried if another top-flight club would come calling.
But Blackburn showed faith in his abilities and he has rewarded them with Premier League safety.
And he is now looking forward to even better times ahead at Ewood Park.
Allardyce told The People: "It was very difficult to live with. I wasn't a Bobby Robson or a Ruud Gullit or a Kenny Dalglish (other former Newcastle managers) who are all extremely big
names in the world of football.
"But Samuel Allardyce is bigger when you spell it out!
"I had a lingering doubt as to whether another Premier League club would employ me contrary to the reputation that I had.
"There was nobody banging on the door to employ me. But coming to Blackburn Rovers has shown that I can do it.
"I have a lot of confidence in my own ability and if I have to prove that again I will do it."
Allardyce is known as a no-nonsense boss and is prepared to take on even the biggest players, such as striker Roque Santa Cruz
who wants to leave the club.
But Allardyce says the striker will only go in a deal which suits the club - not the Paraguayan.
"Cruz wants to leave and when someone wants to leave as badly as he keeps saying, then we will only do it for the best deal for Blackburn Rovers and not for Roque," said Allardyce.
The Blackburn boss is instead focusing on leading his side to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday, in a game being shown live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1 at 4pm.
He believes defence will be the key, saying: "The players need to frustrate Chelsea like they frustrated Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final and, if we do that, we can get a result."
