New Chelsea assistant Holland relishing Stamford Bridge coaching shake up

02 July 2011 16:30
ShareNewly-appointed Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland admits it has been a 'strange week' but is excited by the philosophy manager Andre Villas-Boas is looking to employ at Stamford Bridge.[LNB] Holland was this week promoted fromreserve-team coach to assistant first-team coach, where he will work aspart of former Porto manager Villas-Boas' new-look backroom team. [LNB] Roberto Di Matteo, Jose Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa have been drafted in by Villas-Boas to work with existing goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon and Holland, who says heis excited by the prospect of Chelsea under their new leadership structure.[LNB] New look: Steve Holland (second right) with boss Andre Villas Boas (centre), assistant Robert Di Matteo (second left), fitness coach Jose Rocha (left) and scout Daniel Sousa[LNB]'It has been as strange week,' he told the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.[LNB]'This time last week I was in Spain with my family and Andre called me, asking whether I would like to be involved with the first-team staff for next season. [LNB]'Half a second later I said yes and was on the way home. I spent most of last weekend in a hotel with Andre going through his philosophy and his ideas. [LNB] Glory days: Steve Holland will hope to help return trophies to Stamford Bridge[LNB]'It's something I'm very proud to have been asked to do and I'm excited and looking forward to helping Andre and supporting the team. [LNB]'If I'm honest that is also balanced with an element of sadness. At any football club when there is change and staff members go, especially if you've had a good relationship, it is sad to see people go, so all things considered it has been a really strange week.' [LNB]Holland guided the reserves to the national championship last season playing a brand of exciting, attacking football, which the former Crewe coach believes the first team will be embracing under Villas-Boas.[LNB] Inspiration: Brazil's Zico informs Steve Holland's coaching philosophy[LNB]'Going back right down to my childhood, I was inspired by the Brazilians of 1982,' he added. [LNB]'I was 12 then, but remember that World Cup with Zico, Serginho, Socrates, Falcao. [LNB]'Even before then the Dutch team of the mid-70s, and I grew up on the legend of those players, so I've always been inspired by that type of football. [LNB]'Coming here a couple of years ago, the development teams play with that philosophy, the reserves did last year and Andre is exactly the same so it is a good fit.'  Under pressure: Kop hero Suarez says he was feeling the heat at AnfieldChelsea ready to join the race for wantaway Arsenal midfielder NasriChelsea to rival Arsenal and Tottenham in ?17m chase for Bolton defender Cahill All the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Roberto Di Matteo Places: Spain

Source: Daily_Mail