Villas-Boas unruffled by Benitez Chelsea rumours
CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he does not feel threatened or undermined by speculation linking former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez with his job.
Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League defeat against Napoli represented the latest in a series of blows to the young Portuguese’s authority.
Chelsea entertain Bolton tomorrow looking to jump ahead of fourth placed Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday, and Villas-Boas insists the increased pressure and scrutiny is not hindering his judgement.
“It [the speculation] doesn’t affect me at all,” he said. “Last year I was linked with lots of different clubs whenever results didn’t go [right for them], it is the same with this club.” Under the circumstances it represented a gamble, one that subsequently backfired, to omit Frank Lampard from his starting line-up in Naples, and Villas-Boas admitted owner Roman Abramovich had demanded an explanation.
“I have spoken to the persons near to him [Abramovich],” he added. “He is disappointed and asking questions about how we set up the team, which were duly explained.”
Ashley Cole, who was introduced as a 12th minute substitute following an injury to Jose Bosingwa, was also a high-profile casualty but Villas-Boas denied he had fallen out with the England left-back.
“Ashley had two training sessions before that game. That made an impact on the selection process,” Villas-Boas said.