Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is gutted over the sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas.

The Daily Mail says Abramovich is full of admiration for Villas-Boas' drive and desire but was alarmed by his failure to unite a hostile dressing-room.

The sacking will cost Abramovich around £9million in compensation.

But compensation is no consolation to Villas-Boas for being beaten by the players after he mistakenly believed he could break up a side that has won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and reached a Champions League final in the Abramovich era.