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AVB out to limit damage

Image: Andre Villas-Boas: Admits Chelsea's season has become about damage limitation

Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Chelsea have had to reassess their targets for the season as they focus on trying to finish in the top four.

Villas-Boas fed up with questions about his future

Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that Chelsea have had to reassess their targets for the season as they focus on trying to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next term. Villas-Boas is becoming increasingly fed up with the speculation about his future as manager and is concentrating solely on finishing as high up the Premier League as possible. He accepts that the main aim now is to salvage something from what has been a difficult campaign, but is confident the Blues can finish in the top four and perhaps climb into third with a strong run. Asked about his job, Villas-Boas told reporters: "There's too many games to play. We can't go on about this situation every time we meet. You have to be a little more creative with your questions. "There is a big battle between fourth and seventh in the league and it will change each weekend. "The objective of course is to limit the damages and to get to fourth position, maybe third eventually. "If Arsenal beat Tottenham and we win we are only seven points behind them with one game against them to play, so let us wait and see."

Climate of doubt

Villas-Boas does acknowledge that Chelsea's recent poor form has led to a 'climate of doubt' at Stamford Bridge. "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?" Villas-Boas has sympathy in some parts for the struggle he has endured at Chelsea this season as some of the players who excelled under previous managers are reaching the end of their careers. Despite his insistence that he has the backing of the Chelsea hierarchy, he is aware that Roman Abramovich has had little trouble in firing five of his predecessors. He is adamant that he should be allowed to guide the team through his rebuilding project, however, and is confident that Abramovich feels the same way.
Hurry
"Maybe in the past there has not been patience. That is cultural at the club," Villas-Boas added. "A couple of clubs have undergone this kind of project changes. "Sometimes they are because of results, sometimes they aren't. "What would a managerial change at Inter Milan do to improve the cycle that they have ahead of them? "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."

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