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Chelsea’s AVB not pleased with 0-0 season opener

Comment: 0 August 15th, 2011 by: admin

New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-boas insisted that the goal-less draw from Chelsea’s Premier League opener with Stoke was nowhere near good enough.

Although the draw awards Chelsea a point on the table, the Portuguese manager announced after his first match in his first Premier League season that a 0-0 result is not something he could be happy with.

‘I can’t be pleased with a point,’ said Villas-boas.  ‘The situation is to win here.’

Although with a slow start, the Blues generally had the bulk of possession and although finally finding a sense of aggression in the second half, could not convert.  A total of two penalty appeals in favour of the Blues were also raised; both were denied.

Fernando Torres, who to the surprise of many was put to start instead of Didier Drogba, showed some signs of his old form emerging, although not enough to make him a formidable force.

‘It would have been a massive win here, particularly given Arsenal and Liverpool’s results on Saturday [draws] and Manchester City still to play.’

The 33-year old admitted afterwards that there is in fact room to improve.

‘A point is not ideal although it’s not the end of the world,’ said Villas-boas.  ‘It really is a difficult ground to play on so let’s try and build now on what we’re doing against Norwich and West Brom.’

Aside from being in the crosshairs of a scrutinizing public, Villas-boas is working under the observation silverware-hungry owner Roman Abramovich, who axed former manager Carlo Ancelotti after a trophy-less previous season.

An arguably tacit fact is that Villas-boas’ future at Chelsea is determined by whether or not silverware lands on the Chelsea trophy mantle at the end of this season.

This is a first in 10 years for the Blues to fail to claim victory during opening weekend.  Their next game puts them on their grounds on the 20^th against visiting West Bromwich.

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