Split at Chelsea denied

SOCCER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Chelsea v Valencia: Venue:Stamford Bridge Kick-off:Tonight, 7.45pm On TV:TV3, Sky Sports 2 ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has refused to contemplate the possibility of becoming the first Chelsea manager to fail to take the club out of the group stage of the Champions League and insists he retains the full support of those in the dressingroom ahead of the visit of Valencia tonight.

The Londoners need a win or a clean sheet against the Spanish side to progress into the knock-out phase for the ninth year in succession, yet they confront Unai Emery’s resurgent team having lost three of their past four games at Stamford Bridge.

While consecutive 3-0 wins in the league have at least checked Chelsea’s recent slump, confirmation that Alex and Nicolas Anelka had been transfer-listed over the weekend hinted at disaffection behind the scenes over the early days of Villas-Boas’s tenure.

A failure to reach the last 16 of this competition could further erode faith in the 34-year-old manager, despite the backing he has received to date from the owner, Roman Abramovich. Yet, when asked what ramifications there would be for dropping into the Europa League for the second half of the season, Villas-Boas replied: “I’m not going to answer that question. We cannot speak about that. I haven’t thought about it. My focus is on this game, not what’s going to happen after this game.”

Didier Drogba had urged the playing staff to “stick together” after the impressive win at Newcastle on Saturday which, in the wake of Anelka and Alex being made available for transfer, had prompted suggestions of splits within the squad.

That sentiment had been further fuelled by Frank Lampard’s reaction to being substituted at St James’ Park, with senior players clearly still adjusting to the demands being placed upon them by the manager.

Villas-Boas said the squad was behind him and share his enthusiasm for the philosophy he is attempting to instil at the club. “They have all been receptive, fully,” said the manager. “There’s full belief in what we’re doing. The players are happy with what we’re doing. We saw a great team spirit at Newcastle, with a great focus and ambition to win at a ground where a lot of our opponents have lost points this season against one of the best defences in the league. To score three there gives the value of this team a lot of credit.

“We have had our ups and downs in terms of results but, in terms of performances, all of them have been more or less good apart from the League Cup (defeat to Liverpool) when we weren’t up to our best level. With regard to Frank’s substitution, I have no comment. He is a top professional, and every player wants to spend more time on the pitch, but the manager decides things for the team.”

Yet if instinct suggests disaffection is welling up just as it did so critically under Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari, with the appetite for life under Villas-Boas to be sternly tested by Valencia’s considerable threat at Stamford Bridge tonight, then the reality is apparently very different.

“Even after the losses we’ve had, we’ve always had confidence in ourselves and in the manager,” said striker Daniel Sturridge. “I’m behind him. Everyone else is, too. He’s going to be here for the next three years. We’re not worried about any other manager coming in because we know he’s going to be here for those three years.”

That was timely backing before a game that will determine Chelsea’s further involvement in the Champions League. The club were shrewd in designating Sturridge, one of the new generation thriving under the Portuguese’s guidance, for pre-match media duties.

These are transitional times and a young manager with awkward decisions to make needs a core of support from within. Should his side get the right result tonight then he can continue implementing his philosophies from a position of relative strength.

Valencia arrive having won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions and unbeaten in their last six visits to England. They have drawn twice at Stamford Bridge and, in Roberto Soldado, boast a striker with 10 goals in nine European games.

A tense night awaits and the result accrued will inevitably have implications on how Villas-Boas is perceived. The board may back their man, but elimination might tarnish his standing with the fans.

- Guardian Service