Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas says winning title hardest now
[LNB]Andre Villas-Boas has declared it would be harder for Chelsea to win the Barclays Premier League this season than it was when Jose Mourinho landed back-to-back titles at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Blues boss Villas-Boas insisted he was not trying to downplay his former mentor's historic and record-breaking achievements but claimed the top of the table was far more competitive today than it was five years ago.[LNB] In conversation: Andre Villas-Boas with assistant coach Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Holland during Chelsea training [LNB]The implication, of course, is that should Chelsea finish this season as champions, it would represent an even greater achievement than they managed under Mourinho.[LNB]'It's much more competitive - not in the sense of taking the merit off what has been done in the past,' said Villas-Boas, whose side have 19 points after eight matches, five fewer than Mourinho masterminded during Chelsea's perfect start to the 2005-06 season.[LNB]'The second Premier League title that Chelsea won, it was eight games, eight wins, and the (final) points total was a record. But more teams now look as if they are in title contention.'[LNB]Although it is still very early in the season, there does appear to be some merit in Villas-Boas' claim.[LNB]Nineteen points was enough for Chelsea to lead the table 12 months ago but this season they trail Manchester United by one point and Manchester City by three.[LNB] Champagne moment: Jose Mourinho celebrates the second of his two Chelsea titles in 2006[LNB]That will change on Sunday providing Villas-Boas' men win their London derby at QPR, which almost immediately follows the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.[LNB]Three points would ensure Chelsea end the weekend at least level on points with whoever finishes the derby in second place.[LNB]Emphasising the importance of victory at Loftus Road, Villas-Boas said: 'For us to profit, we need to get our own three points. I need those three points - desperately.'[LNB]That is about as blunt a statement as you will ever hear from the new Chelsea manager, who nevertheless downplayed the significance of Sunday in the grand scheme of things.[LNB]'It's too early to be a real opportunity,' he said. 'If this had happened in April, it would have been, but not now.[LNB]'We were five points from United, and now we're a point away. Things have changed dramatically in recent weeks.[LNB]'But it's still not a pattern regarding how it will happen in the future.'[LNB] Luiz's healing hands are no gimmick: Brazilian's faith runs deeper than helping Torres Spanish contingent helping Torres to fire, claims Chelsea new boy Romeu All the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]
