Chelsea confirm Roman Abramovich visited team training ground but insist Andre Villas-Boas still has backing

Despite the club's owner turning up uninvited at the team's complex in Cobham following the 3-3 draw with Manchester United, their Portuguese coach's job is still safe

Feb 7, 2012 6:41:00 AM

By Ryan Benson

More On :  Chelsea, André Villas-Boas
Roman Abramovich, Chelsea owner
Getty Images

Chelsea has confirmed reports that Roman Abramovich visited the club’s training ground on Saturday and spoke with manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Speculation had been rife that the billionaire owner turned up unannounced at the club’s Cobham training complex on Saturday before speaking at length with the Portuguese manager, something which had reportedly made him nervous for his future.

However, a club spokesman confirmed that the Russian had been to training on Saturday and spoke to Villas-Boas, but insisted this was nothing out of the ordinary, revealing he often turns up at training and speaks with the manager.

The spokesman said: "Roman likes to get down to Cobham and watch training whenever he can.

"He was able to visit on Saturday and he and Andre had a good chat after the training session, which is normal."

Reports also suggested Abramovich appeared in the team’s changing room after the fulltime whistle of the 3-3 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, a match in which Chelsea was leading 3-0 by the 60th minute, but failed to hang on for the win.

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