Source: Team_Talk
AVB targets midfield addition
Andre Villas-Boas says Chelsea will buy at least a midfielder and a winger before the transfer window closes - but not necessarily Luka Modric.[LNB] The Blues have already seen two bids rejected for Tottenham playmaker Modric and Villas-Boas has repeatedly refused to confirm whether they have made, or are planning, a third.[LNB]But the new Chelsea boss is in the market for that type of player - and another midfielder - after admitting he is lacking numbers in that department.[LNB]"I think we might add in those positions - we might," he said.[LNB]"The sense of urgency in midfield is there.[LNB]"We play 4-3-3, we have a squad of 25.[LNB]"For you to prepare for a game, you need at least six midfielders. We only have four.[LNB]"But we have the versatility of (Florent) Malouda, for example, and Yossi (Benayoun), who we have been using in the 10 and the eight position to a very, very good extent and a very good level."[LNB]Every time Villas-Boas has spoken publicly since his appointment seven-and-a-half weeks ago, he has been faced with questions about Modric.[LNB]He gave short shrift to the latest of them, saying: "I just explained to you the sense of urgency in midfield.[LNB]"But it doesn't mean that it's Luka.[LNB]"Not that I'm interested, but you have (Samir) Nasri terminating contract.[LNB]"He's one of the most exciting players in the Premier League and that's the reality, as well as Luka, as well as other players."[LNB]As well as bringing players in, Villas-Boas must decide which of his star-studded squad to keep.[LNB]Striker Didier Drogba has already been offered a new contract to replace the one which expires next summer.[LNB]"Didier knows about our offers and he has made a counter-offer, and we are evaluating some things," said Villas-Boas, who was coy over whether Drogba was looking for more than a one-year extension.[LNB]The Ivory Coast star's Stamford Bridge future was in some doubt midway through last season, but he completely outperformed Fernando Torres towards the end of the campaign to earn a new deal.[LNB]Drogba is likely to start ahead of the Spaniard in Villas-Boas' first competitive game in charge at Stoke tomorrow, a decision which there will inevitably be something made of.[LNB]Villas-Boas has already dismissed criticism of Torres - who scored just once following his £50million January move from Liverpool - as a "media obsession".[LNB]But after once again attempting to defend the Spaniard's performances in 2011, the Chelsea boss admitted his confidence needs rebuilding.[LNB]He said: "I think this guy needs confidence by getting it into the back of the net. Any striker. And the most often as possible in training and in games.[LNB]"In games is more difficult, comes with time. But it will happen. I think it will happen."[LNB]Confidence is something Villas-Boas does not lack himself, even when others have doubted him.[LNB]There have been plenty of naysayers during the 33-year-old's precocious managerial career and, despite his success at Academica and Porto, they refuse to go away.[LNB]Few pundits have Chelsea as Barclays Premier League champions this season, with many predicting them to finish third behind the two Manchester clubs.[LNB]Villas-Boas said: "I had the same in Porto. Exactly the same.[LNB]"'This guy is done'. 'This guy is no age', 'Player power'. 'The pressure'. Whatever. Exactly the same, because it's normal.[LNB]"'This is a 33-year-old leading Chelsea. Are you crazy?'[LNB]"But why? Why cannot people be competent at a young age?"[LNB]But what about the very specific pressure of working under Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich?[LNB]"I wouldn't take the job if I wasn't able to live with a certain amount of pressure," Villas-Boas said.[LNB]"Pressure comes when you are unsuccessful.[LNB]"Because, in the end you will massacre us, rightly so, if we lose a certain game or if we are on an unbeaten run and we lose a certain game that you think important - it might threaten the Premier League or the table of the Premier League.[LNB]"I keep saying this, the most challenging job I had in my short career of three years was Academica.[LNB]"In England, you tend to respect the job that you have done and it's football and you might go down. But not in Portugal.[LNB]"If you go down, it's a stamp in your life."[LNB]Villas-Boas, who did not lose a league game with Porto last season, added: "I cannot prepare myself for failure. Hopefully, failure will never happen.[LNB]"Preparing for failure is putting yourself on the route to fail."
