Phil Jones is Already One of the Signings of the Season at Manchester United
by John PercyFiled under: Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
While Sir Alex Ferguson continues to castigate the media for their apparent agenda against David De Gea, another of Manchester United's new signings cannot have made a more impressive start to life at Old Trafford.
The jury may still be out on De Gea but Phil Jones already appears to be one of Ferguson's shrewdest recruits in years and a player that will leave a lasting legacy when the United manager finally decides to pack it in.
Jones has epitomised the best start to a United season since 1985 with a string of colossal performances at the back, embracing the challenge of playing for a huge club with ease and clearly relishing the opportunity to perform on such a stage.
Many eyebrows were raised when Ferguson paid out £16 million to take him from Blackburn Rovers in the summer but he already looks a snip at that price.
Such astronomical transfer fees are the going rate for teenagers with talent these days and Jones has already proved with both United and England this season that he has a long career ahead of him.
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His performance against Chelsea was another test passed in his introduction to life at the Theatre of Dreams and Ferguson will know that the 19-year-old will only get better.
Fernando Torres may have had one of his more impressive afternoons in a Chelsea shirt on Sunday but Jones still kept him relatively quiet, reading the game superbly like a player who has been around far longer.
It hasn't been just his displays at the back either. The 19-year-old was used as a midfielder in his last few months at Blackburn and his surging runs towards the opposing penalty area have not been reined in by his defensive duties.
Against Chelsea he made a telling contribution for the third goal with a powerful driving run that has almost become a trademark already.
Ferguson will not be shy to play Jones in midfield this season either, so his versatility is further proof of his value for money.
North London Succumbs to the Irresistable Power of Manchester
by Brian GlanvilleFiled under: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Well might poor, assailed Arsene Wenger say with Richard III, "Now all occasions do conspire against me". Alex Ferguson - generously sympathetic after his belated return to BBC television's Match of the Day after seven obstinate years - was in something of a minority. By and large, the Gunners' manager was pilloried for this teams abysmal collapse and 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford. Yet what could have been expected when his team was in tatters?
Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri (no, of course he didn't move for the money) have been sold and lost. Alex Song, Gervinho, splendid at Udinese, and Emmanuel Frimpong, talented but rash, were all suspended. Jack Wilshere, the motor of the midfield, (England need him) was injured, as were the full backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs. To add insult to injuries, you might say, who was forced to drop out, unfit, on the verge of the match, but the true bulwark of the central defence, Thomas Vermeulen, leaving the suspect Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny flimsily there. Francis Coquelin, and obscure young reserve, was pressed into premature service in midfield. Though it is all too embarrassingly true to say that such experienced internationals as Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin shamefully contributed little or nothing. How long will Wenger's patience with them last? Given the departures of key players, there was never any real hope that the Gunners could win the Championship, after six years without a trophy, but now, all hope of that is surely gone. Yet the group they find themselves in now that they've breathlessly qualified for the coming stages of the European Cup is hardly beyond their taking second place to the formidable Borussia Dortmund.
It may seem strange to believe that Tottenham's 5-1 demolition at White Hart Lane by Manchester City was a worse blow to Spurs then Arsenal, their North London rivals, suffered at Old Trafford. Yet where the Gunner put out a team of threads and patches, Tottenham were at full strength and were still annihilated by Manchester City. A team whose access to untold millions from Abu Dhabi has enabled it to build up a glittering squad which will inevitably excel in the Premier League.
A team which can snatch Nasri from Arsenal, Sergio "Kun" Aguero from Atletico Madrid, can now find the powerful Edin Dzeko firing goals rather than blanks, can afford to leave the prolific Carlos Tevez on the bench, can hardly do anything but dominate. As for Spurs, Harry Redknapp, their manager, spoke with ill-concealed bitterness of the way his key creator Luka Modric has been undermined by Chelsea's declared, persisting interest, so that he didn't even wish to play against City.
Chelsea are the other plutocratic club which has utterly unbalanced what I still call the Greed Is Good League. It's something of a consolation that with all their vast expenditure, they at least have looked oddly mediocre so far under their voluble new 33 year old coach, Andre Villas-Boas. Who may well succumb as his predecessor; Carlo Ancelotti did, to what might be called the curse of Fernando Torres. Rashly brought for £30 million clearly at the behest of the Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, but still, alas firing blanks. Villas-Boas is hardly short of self-confidence, but so far, his words have been more impressive than his team's performance.
Chelsea v West Brom Preview: Romelu Lukaku Hoping to Make Blues Debut
by Jon WestFiled under: Chelsea, West Brom, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: STAMFORD BRIDGE, SATURDAY AUGUST 20, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1730 BST
The Andre Villas-Boas era started in a low key manner as Fernando Torres drew another blank and so did all of his team-mates on the opening weekend at Stoke.
Not that life at Stamford Bridge has been dull though, with John Obi Mikel revealing he had played despite learning his father had been kidnapped, goalkeeper Petr Cech being ruled out for a month with a knee injury and teenager striker Romelu Lukaku finally joining from Anderlecht.
Lukaku is expected to go straight into the Chelsea squad, a further sign that a new chapter in Chelsea's history is slowly taking shape.
Whether it will be a successful one remains to be seen, especially as Carlo Ancelotti was fired just 12 months after delivering a Premier League and FA Cup double, the first in the club's history.
West Bromwich will be keen to get the fixture out of the way having been handed the toughest of tasks by the fixtures computer. But they gave champions Manchester United a run for their money on the opening day, losing only via a late own goal, and will be confident of doing better than they did at Stamford Bridge on the opening day last season when they were thrashed 6-0.
Then Roberto di Matteo was the Baggies manager but he was soon to be fired and replaced by Roy Hodgson before joining Chelsea as Villas-Boas' number two in the close season.
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Key match-up: John Terry v Shane Long. With Cech sidelined it will be either Ross Turnbull or Hilario between the posts and Chelsea fans don't really fancy either. The onus will be on captain John Terry to make sure whoever gets the nod gets as much protection as possible, especially as Republic of Ireland forward Long, a summer capture from Reading, will be looking to capitalise. He marked his Baggies debut with a goal that embarrassed David de Gea on his Manchester United debut and is certain to be lively.
Form guide: Both sides will be looking to record their firdt victories of the new campaign.
Odds: Chelsea 3/10, West Brom 9/1, draw 9/2.
Finally the Real Fernando Torres Looks Ready to Stand Up at Chelsea
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Liverpool, Stoke City, Premier League, Football
Fernando Torres was substituted without completing 90 minutes again on Sunday, but this time Roman Abramovich will not have been shaking his head with disapproval.
Abramovich was absent at the Britannia Stadium to see new manager Andre Villas-Boas complete a solid if unspectacular Premier League bow, but will surely feel that his decision to fork out £50 million for Torres is on course to being vindicated.
After appearing a haunted man towards the end of last season, scoring only one goal in 18 games since his move from Liverpool, critics were queuing up to write Torres off.
There have been all the conspiracy theories that Abramovich instructed former manager Carlo Ancelotti to stick with him during his crisis of confidence, even if he looked shot to pieces.
But the general concensus has always been that a player of Torres's vast talent would always come good eventually, and the signs are that he is finally approaching the end of a long dark road.
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There was a sense of purpose to his performance at Stoke on Sunday, a determination to stand up in the face of adversity and prove the decision to bench the far more physical Didier Drogba wasn't the surprise it was initially thought.
Torres was irresistible in the opening ten minutes, before a crunching challenge from Ryan Shawcross knocked him momentarily out of his stride.
But the Spain international recovered and the old dancing feet were back, producing a display that will provide Villas-Boas with much optimism for the campaign ahead.
When asked specifically to comment on Torres's performance in the post-match media conference, Villas-Boas played a straight bat with aplomb. The press will tire of the boring old "I won't comment on individuals" line but it might be just what Torres needs.
He doesn't want every aspect of his performances scrutinised and turned into bold 36pt headlines. Villas-Boas appears determined to keep it all inhouse and concentrate on dragging him out of the hole he has been wallowing in.
Of course, all he probably needs is a goal and at the Britannia Stadium he came agonisingly close before being hit with the pause button just as he was about to pull the trigger.
Chelsea Season Preview: No Margin For Error For Andre Villas-Boas
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football, Team Previews
Age is more than a number at Chelsea; it is the factor that has underpinned almost every discussion about the club's prospects for the next ten months.
At 33, Andre Villas-Boas is, depending on your point of view, either far too young and inexperienced to be taking charge of one of the most demanding jobs in European football or a breath of fresh air brimming with new ideas.
He's also a similar age to several of his most important players which, in the eyes of some observers, means they are past their best or, if you prefer, still have plenty to offer.
The coming campaign will provide answers, and Villas-Boas must hope those answers are the ones Roman Abramovich, the club owner, wants to hear.
Abramovich reinforced his reputation as one of the more impatient owners in the Premier League when he sanctioned the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti in May, 12 months after the Italian had delivered the club's first ever league and cup double.
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Villas-Boas knows that the margin for error in his new job is minimal and trophies will be demanded after a barren year. Should he succeed, his reputation as the most exciting new manager to appear since Jose Mourinho will be consolidated and the Chelsea board will deservedly be praised for taking a chance on his youthful talent. Failure will bring its own, inevitable conclusion.
THE NEW (AND OLD) MEN
Ins: Oriol Romeu (Barcelona) £4.3 million, Thibaud Courtois (Genk) £5 million, now on loan at Atletico Madrid
Outs: Yuri Zhirkov (Anzhi) undisclosed, Jeffrey Bruma (Hamburg) loan, Michael Mancienne (Hamburg) £1.75 million
Summary: The biggest transfer story at Stamford Bridge has centred on Chelsea's pursuit of Luka Modric who now appears likely to remain at Tottenham. Romelu Lukaku anticipated arrival from Anderlecht will add an exciting dimension to Villas-Boas' attacking options while Romeu will bring the technique and vision you would expect from a player schooled at the Nou Camp. Neither player though, is expected to be a regular starter and certainly not the eye-catching signing that would transform the team.
THE MAIN MEN:
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech appeared uncharacteristically vulnerable at times last season but at his best, the Czech is as good as anyone around.
Defence: David Luiz was a revelation when he first arrived from Benfica but his positional uncertainty was exposed in the final weeks. He will continue to mature as, worryingly, will John Terry who at times now shows his age.
Midfield: Once Chelsea's strength, the midfield last season was too often one of the side's weaknesses with Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel both underperforming. Essien is out with a long-term knee injury so more will be expected from Ramires while Frank Lampard's goals remain crucial. Teenager Josh McEachran is likely to be the one to watch though.
Attack: Fernando Torres and/or Didier Drogba? Carlo Ancelotti couldn't find the answer to that conundrum and Villas-Boas will be expected to succeed where the Italian failed.
The boss: Villas-Boas treads in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho who also arrived on the back of success with FC Porto. That alone has helped lend the appointment credibility but the manager knows he has much to prove.
THE GAMES:
Start with: Stoke City, away, August 14. As tough an opening fixture as Chelsea could have hoped for. This will be a day for experienced heads and a chance for the players to show they have the stomach for a fight.
End with: Blackburn Rovers, home, May 13. The ideal game if victory is needed to secure the title.
The big one in between: Manchester United, home, February 4. Three points could halt United's challenge and set up Chelsea's title run-in. On the other hand...
THE FANS:
Most likely to say: "Isn't it about time JT was knighted?"
Least likely to say: "You can't blame Wayne Rooney for trying to win a penalty there ."
Expectation rating: **** Last season's dramatic dip in form before Christmas came as a shock to everyone at Stamford Bridge and exposed the frailties of the squad. At least one trophy will still be expected to be paraded next May, however.
Reality check: **** Chelsea will be competitive and should finish in the top three but the summer spending of the Manchester clubs means the Blues have effectively stood still.
THE NUMBERS:
Title odds: 11/4
Relegation odds: 5000-1
FanHouse prediction: 3rd
Last season's form:
League: 2nd
FA Cup: Fourth round
League Cup: Third round
Champions League: Quarter-finals
Top league scorers: Malouda 13, Drogba 11, Lampard 10, Kalou 10
Discipline:59 yellow, 1 red
Stoke City v Chelsea Preview: Testing Start For Andre Villas-Boas
by John PercyFiled under: Chelsea, Stoke City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: BRITANNIA STADIUM, SUNDAY AUGUST 14, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1330 BST
Andre Villas-Boas will finally make his long-awaited Premier League bow when he walks into the Britannia bearpit, with Tony Pulis ready to test out if Chelsea's new manager really is a Portuguese man of war.
While the wily old hand Pulis is set to rack up his 800th game in management next week, after working his way up the lower leagues, fresh-faced Villas-Boas is preparing for his first ever experience as a manager in the blood and thunder of the Premier League.
Pulis is expecting Chelsea to still be smarting after their title bid collapsed last season, with Carlo Ancelotti paying the ultimate price with the sack, for the cardinal sin of finishing second.
Villas-Boas will face a rude welcome in the Potteries but Pulis is convinced that rumours of Chelsea's demise have been exaggerated. However, the 33-year-old will surely have to hit the ground running and deliver results instantly or eventually go the same way as more illustrious predecessors Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Luis Felipe Scolari.
Pulis, a spectator at Ibrox last weekend for Chelsea's friendly with Rangers, will have to manage expectations himself this season after guiding his side to the FA Cup Final last season.
Their season is already off and running after beating Hajduk Split over two legs in the Europa League but Pulis still wants at least four new players before the transfer window closes. This encounter should give him a good barometer of what he needs to do.
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STOKE CITY:
Jon Walters has constantly defied the doubters ever since his arrival at Stoke last summer and his excellent goal against Chelsea last season was further proof that you under-estimate him at your peril.
The former Ipswich striker produced a moment of magic in their encounter at the Britannia Stadium last term and has warned the Londoners all the pressure will be on them on Sunday.
Stoke are still yet to beat Chelsea since promotion to the Premier League but Walters is convinced the Potters can give Villas-Boas a harsh introduction to this unforgiving division.
He said: "The pressure is on them. They are trying to take the league from Manchester United, they have brought in a new manager and, with the players they have, they should be up there.
"But we gave them a good game when we played them here last time and we will be looking to do the same again.
"We were playing against the best players, but we saw we could stand up to them, put them on the back foot and put the pressure on.
"It was end to end, both sides hit the woodwork and either could have won it. We came off the pitch on a bit of a downer that we had only drawn.
"Sunday's match is another to look forward to and hopefully we can reproduce the same sort of game."
Strategy: Stoke have already played two competitive games this season and that could work in their favour against Chelsea. However, their abrasive approach has been well handled by Chelsea in the past, even if they have produced improved performances against them with each season.
The pace of Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant will be key here, as they bid to provide service to Kenwyne Jones and Walters in the box.
Injury Update: Rory Delap will face a late fitness test on a hamstring tweak, while new signing Matthew Upson is not yet match-fit. Ricardo Fuller (Achilles), Danny Higginbotham (knee) and Mamady Sidibe (Achilles) are long-term casualties.
Why Andre Villas-Boas Has to be Sixth and the Best at Chelsea
by Jon WestFiled under: Chelsea, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Chelsea have been searching for almost four years for a manager as good as Jose Mourinho. Now Petr Cech has announced that new man Andre Villas-Boas will have to be better than the Special One to succeed at Stamford Bridge. So no pressure then, AVB.
"Jose Mourinho set a standard here and the others have had to try and do better than him," Cech declared. "Managers have their own philosophy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
"You change the manager when you see there is no way to continue. That's the philosophy here, but I hope there will be a way for Andre to continue for many years.
"Six managers have been appointed at Chelsea since I joined the club and, unfortunately, apart from Jose, who was here for three-and-a-half years, nobody lasted long. But if we have a great season, then we will build the base for the manager to stay for many years."
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Ah yes, but what constitutes a successful season in the mind of Roman Abramovich, who fired Carlo Ancelotti after two seasons, the first of which saw Chelsea win the Premier League and the FA Cup?
Winning the Champions League is the simple answer, with his failure to land the prize costing Mourinho his job in September 2007. Villas-Boas was part of Mourinho's back up team of course and Cech was confident the foundations for success had already been laid.
"We have always had a strong defence and built from that," said Cech, who has also worn the gloves under Avram Grant, Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink. "So far we have not conceded a goal in pre-season, which is a good sign. It is always good to win games without conceding. That builds up confidence."
Inevitably however the focus will always be on the other end of the pitch with Didier Drogba's powers waning and Fernando Torres still labouring under the label of a £50 million misfit.
Torres was Abramovich's signing in January rather than Ancelotti's and the Russian had already made an expensive mistake when Mourinho was in charge by bringing his pal Andriy Shevchenko to west London for an extremely unproductive spell. Cech was confident Torres would come good eventually though - or was at least prepared to say so in public.
"The time will come for Fernando," he said. "There are no similarities with Shevchenko. Torres will score goals and will be fine. With Andriy, it did not work from the start. But you can see with Fernando that he is working, improving all the time. We need to improve as a team to play with him. It's just a matter of time."
Villas-Boas has so far been unable to persuade Tottenham to part with Luka Modric so that means Palermo's Javier Pastore is their number one transfer target, although the Argentina international is valued at a whopping £44 million.
According to the Daily Mirror, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini believes it is "very likely" a deal will be struck, but is also hoping Paris St Germain's interest will push the price up.
To figures of almost Torres proportions therefore but if AVB is to succeed where others have failed he will need to sort of financial backing that Jose once enjoyed. For a while.
Why Fernando Torres’s Place In Chelsea’s Starting Line-up Is Not Guaranteed
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football
Another game, another blank for Fernando Torres. As the season approaches the focus will shift from when he will score to whether he deserves a place in Chelsea's starting line-up.
Since his £50 million move from Liverpool in January the Spain striker has one goal to his name, with the club's other mid-season arrival, David Luiz, scoring more from his position at centre back.
Andre Villas-Boas has barely been in the job at Stamford Bridge and has already found himself defending Torres.
"I don't want to turn Torres into an obsession like you people are trying to do," he said in The Sun,after Torres failed to find the target in a 1-0 friendly win against a Malaysian XI. "I am not going to waste time over this. I disagree that he is lacking in confidence.
"Every time a player doesn't score, I am asked questions about him. I agree that Torres is a £50 million striker but my focus is purely on the performance of the team, not the individual."
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The "obsession" with Torres is totally justified, given his price tag. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have commanded higher transfer fees.
The expectation is for the Premier League's most expensive player to score more than a solitary strike against a relegation-doomed West Ham in 18 games.
Villas-Boas knows he cannot afford that type of return from a central striker in a forward three, particularly with the intense scrutiny on him at the start of his career as Chelsea manager. A poor start and the pressure will be on.
The Portuguese coach must be considering his options in attack. Didier Drogba is a guaranteed performer, Daniel Sturridge is showing too much promise to be loaned out, while Nicolas Anelka offers support wide or centrally.
Villas-Boas appears reluctant to partner Torres and Drogba, like Carlo Ancelotti was last season. The new man also emphasised how no player is guaranteed a starting berth.
He added: "Every Chelsea player is competing to be successful and the best players in training will go into the team. The point of these (friendly) games is to get a feel for your team and achieve your objectives in terms of fitness and training.
"To gain the confidence to find the back of the net, Torres needs training, tolerance and patience. It doesn't look like he is getting this at the moment but we are ready to give our forwards this patience."
Patience has been needed with Torres since the World Cup, when his form dipped. In fact, his slump has been traced back to he ditched his blonde hair.
The next year will determine if he is remembered like another Chelsea striker who struggled after arriving with a big transfer fee, namely Andriy Shevchenko.
Romelu Lukaku a Symbol of Andre Villas-Boas’s Transfer Policy at Chelsea
by Matt ButlerFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Be honest. How many of you knew that much about Romelu Lukaku or Thibault Cortois before last week? Come to think of it, outside of Chelsea-obsessives, who could have picked Andre Villas-Boas out of a line-up before last season's Europa League final?
While Villas-Boas still gets linked - and asked about - the likes of Luka Modric and other high-profile names befitting a club with designs on winning the Champions League, his initial forays into the transfer market indicate he is recruiting in his own image, bringing in players who are not yet superstars but have bags of potential.
Lukaku is the second player who is likely to arrive at Stamford Bridge, after Chelsea bid around £18 million for the 18-year-old Anderlecht striker, with fellow Belgian Thibaut Cortois nearing an agreement on personal terms with the club.
Chelsea have been after Lukaku for some time, with Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck revealing last month they were in negotiations with the London club.
He is highly-rated, as shown by his price tag, which if accepted will put him joint second with Manchester United's Anderson on the list of the Premier League's most expensive teenager list, behind Wayne Rooney. And he is massive in Anderlecht - over half of the replica shirt sales have Lukaku's name on it.
FanHouse UK: Who Is Romelu Lukaku? (Video)
He has had two years in the Belgian top flight, where he scored 15 goals last term and 16 the season before. He is big - 6ft 4in - and has been described as the new Didier Drogba, because of his strength, size and tenacity.
But what is more telling is that Villas-Boas, who himself could be regarded as a choice from leftfield given the household names being linked with the Chelsea manager's job after Carlo Ancelotti's exit, is confident enough to take a punt on players like Lukaku and goalkeeper Cortois.
This is of course early days in the transfer window , as Villas-Boas keeps reminding us every time the subject of new recruits is brought up. He has not even yet identified who he wants to keep at the club, let alone who he needs to bring in.
His current mantra is "there is plenty of time, no rush" and he is using the tour of Malaysia to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of his squad, before the club make any major moves.
Of course it must not be forgotten that transfers are not the sole preserve of the manager at Chelsea. Villas-Boas recommends players, but the board plays a far bigger role in the transfer market at Stamford Bridge than at other clubs.
But the early signs are that the Chelsea are prepared to go for more value signings - albeit ones that may carry a risk - to complement the big names of Fernando Torres and David Luiz, who joined in the last transfer window.
And, for the time being, marquee names may be at a premium at Stamford Bridge this summer - not that it will be a bad thing. After all, look at how Torres, the last household name to pitch up at the gates, has done.
Andre Villas-Boas Sets His Sights On Champions League Prize
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Chelsea, Champions League, Premier League, Football
It is widely regarded as the trophy Roman Abramovich craves most, particularly as he never tasted victory in it.
Premier League titles have been won, retained and regained, while domestic cup competitions are almost an afterthought at Chelsea and may not save a manager from the sack.
It is in the Champions League where new manager Andre Villas-Boas can buy himself time and ease any pressure that comes with taking over from Carlo Ancelotti and working for Abramovich.
"In the next years, for sure, the trophy will arrive in this club. 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," said Villas-Boas in The Sun.
Come February, when the Champions League knockout stages start, Villas-Boas will find the pressure on him to deliver Europe's top trophy.
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The former Porto coach will be a tournament rookie but expected to build on last season's Europa League success. He is making the right noises at the moment and mentioning the Champions League early in his tenure shows he is aware of its importance.
Last season, when Manchester United set up their quarter-final victory by winning at Stamford Bridge in the first leg. That followed on from Chelsea's disappointment of the year before when Inter Milan outclassed them over two matches in the first knockout stage.
Unless Chelsea are running away with the Premier League, a repeat of those performances and there will almost certainly be questions over Villas-Boas.
The task for Villas-Boas is to recapture the confidence in the squad that saw the club get within seconds of beating Barcelona in 2009 semi-final, or come within a John Terry penalty of winning the competition the year before that.
Comments from Sir Alex Ferguson has signalled the start of the mind-games this season, so the tension is already there and will only increase when Champions League duties get added to trying to win back their Premier League title from United.
Frank Lampard's assessment of Chelsea's chances shows there is a determination to match United and Barcelona next season.
He told chelsea.com: "In the Abramovich era we have had six or seven very successful years and it is normal that you can't possibly win every year.
"The expectations are high but you can fall short due to the quality that is out there. We have to hold our hands up and say that Manchester United deserved to win the Premier League last season and I don't think anyone will disagree that Barcelona deserved to win the Champions League.
"So we just have to learn the lessons from that and we have the quality in this team to be successful, it is a matter of getting our focus right. We had a very poor patch of form for a few months last season which you can't afford to do and we have to be aware of that and make sure we keep our eye on the ball individually.
"If we do that with the quality we have I don't see a reason why we can't get back to the successes we had the year before and more."
Chelsea Need New Blood to Kickstart the Andre Villas-Boas Era at Stamford Bridge
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
After a relatively intense few weeks in which the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti was followed by the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas, things have gone quiet at Chelsea.
Villas-Boas himself helped diffuse the excitement by refusing to grandstand in the manner of predecessor and one-time mentor Jose Mourinho immediately following his appointment.
And the understated mood has been consolidated by a lack of eye-catching transfer activity that would confirm the anticipated - and much-needed - overhaul of an ageing squad had finally clicked into gear.
Thibaut Courtois, the 19-year-old goalkeeper, is expected to complete a £5 million move from Genk shortly. Otherwise, the most exciting news to come out of the club was Josh McEachran's new, five-year contract, timely given the knee injury to
Michael Essien that will keep the Ghana midfielder out for at least six months.
The ongoing attempt to sign Tottenham's Luka Modric has offered the most tantalising prospect of new blood while the unexpected link with West Ham's Scott Parker suggests a pragmatic note will underpin business in the coming weeks.
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The opening game of the Villas-Boas era, perhaps unsurprisingly, offered few hints of fireworks to come with Chelsea ambling to a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth, helped on their way by an own-goal from former defender Tal Ben Haim.
Speaking after the game at Fratton Park Villas-Boas remained sanguine about the Modric situation that clearly has a long way to run yet.
The Croatia international was believed to have handed in a transfer request, although a report in the Sunday Mirror suggests this may not be the case. Either way, Spurs' desire to keep the player shows no sign of wilting.
"If it happens it happens, if it doesn't happen we respect whatever position Tottenham takes," said Villas-Boas. "Also, the prices that we are talking about are incredible. It's a lot of money. So let's judge it carefully."
"We didn't have a chance to meet personally. But I wouldn't like to extend myself on what is the focus of the press at the moment."
The Essien injury has only reinforced the need to strengthen and a decision about a move for Parker, whether on loan or as a permanent recruit, will be made shortly although Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, a long term admirer of the player, articulated the issues surrounding a move for the 30-year-old.
"If you take into account the fee of around £8m, signing on fees and wages you're talking about a £30m deal," said Redknapp told the Sunday Mirror, suggesting this was enough to rule out any interest from Spurs in a player with no resale value. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will harbour similar doubts.
Villas-Boas is still assessing his squad and is showing no outward signs of impatience to bring in new players.
That situation can't continue for much longer, however, especially as Chelsea's main rivals have already concluded pieces of business.
Abramovich has got his man. Now he needs to step up the efforts to give Villas-Boas the tools to do the job he wants the manager to do.
Fernando Torres is Facing the Biggest Test of His Career at Chelsea
by Ben HuntFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football
When Fernando Torres arrived at Chelsea in the January transfer window for an astonishing fee of £50 million, there was the widely-held opinion that he would single-handedly resurrect the club's flagging title hopes.
After all, Torres had been a regular goal-getter for Liverpool, his previous club, and Chelsea needed goals more than ever to make up ground on Manchester United.
Just how much impact Chelsea's previous manager, Carlo Ancelotti had on Torres's transfer is likely to remain unknown, for there is the suggestion the order to purchase the Spain international came straight from the club's owner Roman Abramovich.
Yet whoever was responsible would have been recoiling as Torres went game after game without scoring a goal for his new club. He finally broke his duck after 903 minutes of football with a goal against West Ham but that single effort proved to be his only contribution in 18 appearances.
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It is fair to assume that Torres was glad to see the end of the season with his reputation hitting rock-bottom.
But will this campaign be any better for him? Chelsea's managerial reshuffle with the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas is another bold move by Abramovich as he tries to revive Chelsea's ageing squad of players by bringing in a manager who is as young as them.
Presumably, Abramovich is hoping for the same positive impact that Jose Mourinho made when he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Porto in 2004. Yet there is a key difference.
When the self-proclaimed "Special One" came to Chelsea, he was handed a substantial transfer kitty by a flush and enthusiastic Abramovich and he set about building a squad capable of winning silverware.
Will Abramovich extend the same generosity to Villas-Boas? Unlikely, given the Russian's dismay at Chelsea's failure to win the Champions League and that there has been an evident tightening of the purse-strings, with the exception of the arrival of Torres and David Luiz.
Essentially, Villas-Boas will be required to work with the players already at his disposal and that means placing his faith in Torres.
Harry Redknapp Urges Tottenham to Spend Quickly and Wisely
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Tottenham, Premier League, Football
The transfer window is barely open but the message is clear already: move quickly or get left behind. There is no longer a Premier League top four but spending power is having a big say in who will be competing for the title next season.
Manchester United have made their intentions clear with three signings. Manchester City have simply continued their aggressive policy from the last few years. Arsenal rarely splash the cash but are still considered among the elite, while Liverpool are tipped to compete for a Champions League place after moves in the market.
Then there is Chelsea, with Andre Villas-Boas looking to shape his squad after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti.
That is five potential title candidates but Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes there could be six if his club invest quickly and wisely. And when he talks about spending, he wants players such as Giuseppe Rossi, who would cost £30 million from Spanish club Villarreal.
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Leandro Damiao from Brazilian club Internacional is also a target, with Redknapp insisting chairman Daniel Levy needs to spend to keep pace with the others. Redknapp developed a taste for the Champions League when playing in it last season and he knows what is needed to qualify again.
Redknapp said: "I love Rossi. We tried to get him last season when he was £18 million and that looks cheap now. It's up to the club and Daniel, but if you want top players they cost top money and they are not cheap. Top wages and fees.
"You need miracles if you're going to keep picking up people who are bargains and they become worth mega-money. Everyone's looking for strikers and they are at a premium. They're difficult to find."
Spurs have earned a reputation for leaving it late on transfer-deadline day before sealing deals. Rafael van der Vaart was the last-gasp arrival a season ago, then the January window was a disaster.
Redknapp wanted Phil Neville from Everton but the club's bid was too low. Then they attempted to sign Charlie Adam from Blackpool but the paperwork could not be completed in time.
Managers always enjoy a settled squad heading into the first games of the season, so Spurs may want to move quicker. City have already signed Gael Clichy, who Redknapp feels is a superb acquisition.
He added: "Look at Manchester United, Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) has made some great signings. He's bought early. He's signed a fantastic goalkeeper (David de Gea), a centre-half who will play for England many times (Phil Jones), and Ashley Young is a top player.
"He's made great signings and they're not finished yet. They will improve, Chelsea will improve, Liverpool are improving and Manchester City.
"Clichy is a fantastic signing, he has everything, I'm just surprised he is leaving Arsenal. I thought he'd be there forever.
"It's a big signing, Man City have plenty of left-backs now. Wayne Bridge and Aleksandar Kolorov have real competition. They are building a great squad. It's cheap - £7 million is great value, if you let people run into their last year you're not going to get big fees for them."
But Redknapp, speaking during an interview with Sky Sports News, feels his team can also be contenders.
He said: "We want to be. We played some great stuff last season and there is no reason we can't.
"But it's obvious we need to improve. If we don't it will be difficult to get above those teams. We need two or three players to make the difference."
And it would also mean keeping Luka Modric and Gareth Bale at the club. Redknapp added: "For Luka, £30 million couldn't possibly buy him, he's right up there and we don't want to sell him. Gareth will stay. He needs to stay to keep learning and improving. He's massive player for the club, he's so exciting."
Redknapp is confident about his top players staying, but he needs some arrivals quickly as well.
Andre Villas-Boas Needs Fernando Torres to Recapture His Best Form
by Brian GlanvilleFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football
Can the precocious 33 year old, Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas succeed at Chelsea?
Of his managerial and coaching talents there is no doubt, yet so much will surely depend on whether Fernando Torres, so far a £50 million fiasco at Stamford Bridge, can at last recover form over the summer. Carlo Ancelotti was impaled on the problem.
Logically, there should have been no place for Torres, sometimes absurdly preferred to the powerful Didier Drogba; but Roman Abromavich plainly wanted his money's worth just as he did with the £31 million, exhausted, Andriy Shevchenko. Jose Mourinho, Villa-Boas's mentor and compatriot would have none of it.
Villa Boas has already been at Chelsea as an aide to Mourinho and knows his way around.
Chelsea’s Andre Villas-Boas Would Be Well Advised to Listen to Ray Wilkins
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Chelsea, Premier League, Football
He may have cleaned up in Portugal last season by securing three pieces of domestic silverware as well as leading Porto to Europa League glory.
But Andre Villas-Boas has been told that he must win over Chelsea's established players if he wants to enjoy the same level of success in the Premier League.
The warning has come from the man whose abrupt departure from Stamford Bridge last season led to a slump in form which they failed to recover as Carlo Ancelotti was given his marching orders after failing to win a trophy.
"He is a young man who has done exceptionally well but it is a massive test coming in at Chelsea as they have big players and big personalities in there as well," said Ray Wilkins, who was Ancelotti's assistant until he was sacked last November.
"Has he worked with players of the experience, quality and personality of some of the guys there at Stamford Bridge?
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"It will be interesting to see how he handles it. If he can, and I believe he is a decent guy, I don't see him having a problem."
New managers rarely pay much attention to the views of former players or coaching staff, but Villas-Boas would be well advised to listen to Wilkins, who enjoyed a close working relationship with senior players like John Terry.
Villas-Boas still has time to get used to his new surroundings before Chelsea's players report back for pre-season training on 4 July ahead of their friendlies with Vitesse Arnhem and Portsmouth, and a four-match tour of Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
"The bigger challenge will be when the games start and whether he can respond to the tactical situations he finds himself in," added Wilkins, who believes Villas-Boas' previous role at the club under Jose Mourinho will give him a head start.
"He knows what it's about from within the club and he will run the footballing side. It's a wonderful league because no two games are the same and I'm sure he'll enjoy that.
"His training drills will be organised, he has worked with Mourinho and the players were well into the Mourinho philosophy and he will know what the players require.
"He knows what it's about from within the club and he will run the footballing side. It's a wonderful league because no two games are the same and I'm sure he'll enjoy that."