Harder to win title now, says Villas-Boas
Blues boss Villas-Boas insisted he was not trying to downplay his former mentor’s historic and record-breaking achievements but claimed the top of the table was far more competitive today than it was five years ago.
The implication, of course, is that should Chelsea finish this season as champions, it would represent an even greater achievement than they managed under Mourinho.
“It’s much more competitive – not in the sense of taking the merit off what has been done in the past,” said Villas-Boas, whose side have 19 points after eight matches, five fewer than Mourinho masterminded during Chelsea’s perfect start to the 2005-06 season.
“The second Premier League title that Chelsea won, it was eight games, eight wins, and the (final) points total was a record.
“But more teams now look as if they are in title contention.”
Although it is still very early in the season, there does appear to be some merit in Villas-Boas’ claim.
Nineteen points was enough for Chelsea to lead the table 12 months ago but this season they trail Manchester United by one point and Manchester City by three.
Three points against QPR tomorrow would ensure Chelsea end the weekend at least level on points with whoever finishes the Manchester derby in second place.
Emphasising the importance of victory at Loftus Road, Villas-Boas said: “For us to profit, we need to get our own three points.
“I need those three points – desperately.”
That is about as blunt a statement as you will ever hear from the new Chelsea manager, who nevertheless downplayed the significance of tomorrow in the grand scheme of things.
“It’s too early to be a real opportunity,” he said. “If this had happened in April, it would have been, but not now.
“We were five points from United, and now we’re a point away. Things have changed dramatically in recent weeks. But it’s still not a pattern regarding how it will happen in the future.”
Meanwhile, Villas-Boas has refused to provide Salomon Kalou with the guarantee of more game time he sought this week before renewing his contract, which expires next summer. Kalou staked a claim for a recall after coming off the bench and scoring in Wednesday night’s Champions League thrashing of Genk “Everyone wants more playing time, ” said AVB. “We have 26 players and we can only pick 11.
“He can play a part for this team, as he did against Genk, and he just has to keep going and keep working.”
Tomorrow will be the first occasion Villas-Boas has sent a team out to face one managed by Neil Warnock.
“We met in the Premier League managers’ meeting,” the 34-year-old said. “He seemed a person of great charisma and personality.”
Charisma and personality that sometimes spills over into aggression.
“I have no problem with that,” Villas-Boas said.
“I don’t think that will happen (on Sunday), for sure.”
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