Villas-Boas: Blues will rule Europe this season

NEW Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas yesterday vowed to lead the club to an elusive Champions League title at the first attempt, dismissing suggestions his squad of superstars are past their prime.

“In the next year, for sure the trophy will arrive in this club,” the former Porto coach declared confidently, in shades of his compatriot Jose Mourinho, the self-proclaimed “special one” who failed to deliver club football’s top prize for Chelsea’s ambitious owner Roman Abramovich.

“Chelsea have been in a couple of semi-finals and also one final in recent times. I don’t see why we can’t go on to win it,” he said as the London team arrived in Kuala Lumpur to kick off their 15-day Asia tour.