WITH RUMOURS OF a player revolt still clouding the air, Andre Villas Boas has distanced himself further from his squad.
Following Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Everton, reports suggested that some senior players had had a stand up argument with the manager.
Villas Boas’ situation was further undermined (albeit inadvertently) with the comments from his former employer, Pinto de Costa, who suggested that Jose Mourinho is still in close contact with some Chelsea players.
Today, the 34-year-old denied the training ground bust-up, but did admit that at least some of his players are not fully rowing in behind his grand plan.
“That is normal,” the Portuguese said ”They don’t have to back my project. It’s the owner who backs my project.”
Villas Boas has been under fire from the outset in his role as boss of an ageing Blues side, but many feel that he retains the support of Abramovich because the Russian has given him a blessing to rebuild the team this summer.
Speaking to Reuters ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth round meeting with Birmingham City, AVB explained away the rumoured Sunday row as, ”a meeting of technical staff and players, nothing dramatic.”
However, there has been plenty dramatic about Chelsea this season, not least their recent league meeting with Manchester United where a three goal lead was squandered in the second half.
“Everybody understands we need more (effort) and responsibility for this must be shared between the players and management. The right results haven’t been happening for us for quite some time.”
Along with his accidental revelation about Mourinho, Porto president, Da Costa also remarked that only failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League would cost Villa Boas his job. A possibility which is growing with every passing week as Chelsea currently lie fifth, level on points with Arsenal.
The FA Cup may be the Blues final chance at silverware this season, but it will be a top four finish and European progress that will top the young manager’s priorities.
Particularly if Roman says so.
