Climate change worries AVB

Under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits his team’s recent poor form has led to a “climate of doubt” at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas’s future has come under intense scrutiny over the last two weeks after Chelsea slipped out of the Premier League top four and edged close to a last-16 exit from the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat at Napoli.

The Blues also came worryingly close to being eliminated from the FA Cup last weekend but a second-half equaliser from Daniel Sturridge rescued them from a shock home defeat by Championship side Birmingham.

Speculation has been rife that Roman Abramovich is considering sacking Villas-Boas, although the 34-year-old insisted yesterday he retains the full backing of the club’s owner. Nevertheless, the Portuguese admits his failure to get his team to perform consistently has led to a worrying atmosphere at the London club.

“Everything is always related to results,” Villas-Boas said. “The problem is that results lead you into doubt so [the question is] are you able to live with that climate of doubt and believe in the person and the project, or do you believe the person is not the right one?”

Despite his insistence that he has the backing of the Chelsea hierarchy, Villas-Boas is aware Abramovich has had little trouble in firing five of his predecessors.

He is adamant he should be allowed more time, and is confident Abramovich feels the same way.

“Maybe in the past there has not been patience. That is cultural at the club,” Villas-Boas added. “As a society we are always in a hurry. The fans are in a hurry for results, I am in a hurry for us to overcome Napoli.

“This sense of urgency and emergency does not respect time. Sometimes time is needed and there is a full understanding from the owner in that sense.”

Villas-Boas’s problems have been deepened by claims that he has clashed with senior players over his tactics and team selection.

The manager, who left out Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole for Tuesday’s defeat in Naples, expects his senior players to be unhappy at being dropped but denies he has a problem with any of them.

“It has been blown out of proportion,” Villas-Boas said. “The work is not being undermined [by the players].”

Villas-Boas begins his fightback today with the visit of strugglers Bolton.

The match will see David Luiz and Gary Cahill paired at the back after John Terry was ruled out for up to six weeks with a knee injury.

Chelsea have conceded seven goals in the three games that Luiz and Cahill have been paired together in central defence but Villas-Boas is confident the duo can deliver.

He said: “It just takes time, it’s a new partnership.”