GARY Cahill has given an insight into the moments that followed Andre Villas-Boas' 'cruel' sacking as Chelsea boss.

Villas-Boas is reported to have spent the night following Chelsea's defeat to West Brom at Chelsea's Cobham training ground, studying ways to improve the Blues hapless form.

The following morning, Sunday, he was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich in person.

Cahill said: “After hearing the news a lot of the lads saw him and said their farewells and wished him all the best. That’s how it went. It was a very sad moment for the football club.

“Obviously it has been strange. The new manager has put his new spin on things just by the way he has done his training sessions. It’s obviously always going to be different from the previous manager.

“But the personnel at the training ground hasn’t changed too much and the lads have responded positively.”

Villas-Boas' stern, sentiment-free approach to the game was cited by some as a possible reason for his failure, particularly in his relations with some of the club's longer-serving players.

But Cahill insists the new regime, led by former assistant Roberto Di Matteo , is no barrel of laughs.

Asked if Di Matteo's approach was more light-hearted, he said: “I don’t know about that, it’s just we have to get on with the job we have to do.

“It’s not a nice moment when a manager loses his job and it was a sad moment for everyone at the football club. It’s a cruel game, but you just have to move on.” 

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