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‘Difficult but not impossible’ – Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas reserved after loss to Napoli
The young manager admitted his side could have been better at both ends at San Paolo but believes they will have plenty of chances to claw back the advantage at Stamford Bridge
Feb 21, 2012 6:11:00 PM
By George Ankers
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas believes it is “difficult … [but] not impossible” to progress in the Champions League after his side was beaten 3-1 by Napoli in the first leg of its last 16 tie.
Juan Mata gave the Blues the lead with an away goal at San Paolo, but two strikes from Ezequiel Lavezzi either side of an Edinson Cavani effort saw the Italians take an advantage into the return leg, and the Portuguese coach admitted the Blues were found lacking at both ends of the pitch.
“After the first goal I think we had a big chance to go 2-0 up, big missed opportunities,” he told Sky Sports.
“Then we should have done better defending – [we made] a couple of mistakes which, against Napoli, with their attacking strength, are going to get punished. I think that the third goal was perfectly avoidable.
“If it had been a one-goal advantage [for Napoli] at home, it would have been better, but the third one is more difficult to recover – not impossible, of course, because of the amount of chances that we get and the environment that we must get at the Bridge to turn this tie around and to go through."
Villas-Boas caused a stir at the start of the game by leaving Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole on the bench, but he remained bullish about his decisions after the match.
“I can go on and explain but it makes no difference for you guys [the media], you have to analyze it as well and take your opinion,” the 34-year-old stated.
“It was based on what was fair for the team at that moment and it was the best team.
“Yeah, for sure,” he added when asked if he would be in charge for the second leg.
“I don’t think it makes a difference [if the board back me publicly]. You have to put things into perspective. I have the full confidence of the owner with the message that I have from him all the time to do my job.”
The second leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on March 14.
Juan Mata gave the Blues the lead with an away goal at San Paolo, but two strikes from Ezequiel Lavezzi either side of an Edinson Cavani effort saw the Italians take an advantage into the return leg, and the Portuguese coach admitted the Blues were found lacking at both ends of the pitch.
“After the first goal I think we had a big chance to go 2-0 up, big missed opportunities,” he told Sky Sports.
“Then we should have done better defending – [we made] a couple of mistakes which, against Napoli, with their attacking strength, are going to get punished. I think that the third goal was perfectly avoidable.
“If it had been a one-goal advantage [for Napoli] at home, it would have been better, but the third one is more difficult to recover – not impossible, of course, because of the amount of chances that we get and the environment that we must get at the Bridge to turn this tie around and to go through."
Villas-Boas caused a stir at the start of the game by leaving Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole on the bench, but he remained bullish about his decisions after the match.
“I can go on and explain but it makes no difference for you guys [the media], you have to analyze it as well and take your opinion,” the 34-year-old stated.
“It was based on what was fair for the team at that moment and it was the best team.
“Yeah, for sure,” he added when asked if he would be in charge for the second leg.
“I don’t think it makes a difference [if the board back me publicly]. You have to put things into perspective. I have the full confidence of the owner with the message that I have from him all the time to do my job.”
The second leg will be played at Stamford Bridge on March 14.
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