Villas-Boas: A crazy game

19 September 2011 00:25
Boss remains positive Chelsea lost their unbeaten record at Old Trafford yesterday when they went down 3-1 to league leaders Manchester United. But manager Andre Villas-Boas still remains upbeat. The Portugal coach said afterwards:” 'It's something that can happen. It happened the other day to Arsenal, something as crazy as that and it happened today at half-time. “I would like to emphasise that we had a good response straight away and a good game to be fair; we created a lot of opportunities. “Normally when you create 21 opportunities at Old Trafford you should come away with at least a point and a couple were very good opportunities so I think 3-0 at half-time is crazy, If the 1-1 [from Ramires] goes in it is a different story. Before 1-0 we had a good chance as well. It was a chaotic game and to be fair a very open game. “I am very happy with how our team reacted to such a negative half-time result and we showed commitment and desire to turn things around. We did everything within our power to try to find the second goal, which is difficult because you are always exposed and it was because of that that eventually United found the penalty that they missed, but we continued to attack and try to create opportunities but it just didn't fall our way. If it does and a little bit of luck comes in the game, then the result is different. “It didn't fall our way in every kind of the word, not only in goalscoring opportunities but referee or linesman decisions, not that I am looking for any excuse but it is the reality and they influenced the game. It's a 2-0 instead of a 0-0 or whatever. I am pretty unhappy with how the linesman performed but these things happen in the game.” Villas-Boas was referring to the apparent, well to the video replays and not t that united first two goals came from players in offside positions. He added: "It could have gone the other way round, 5-0, as crazy as that, you never know. It's good the team is able to assume responsibility for things not going their way and coming back to try to get something at Old Trafford when Man United are in such a goalscoring spree. "It takes some balls for the players to assume this kind of game when they come back for the second half. "What I can say is that last year we started very well and unfortunately it didn't happen towards the winter period. This way at the moment we are five points behind Man United but we could say we wouldn't expect Man City to lose points at Fulham, so this Premier League is unpredictable, 'We always consider ourselves title contenders and will have to get three points straightaway against Swansea [on Saturday] because it gives us a good mental reaction to a defeat. And it's important for us to continue to believe in our work. Apart from the result our work was shown today but we just couldn't find the back of the net. The most important thing is we believe in the way we are playing. "They [Man Utd]  are in a good position now but it is very, very early. Nothing that would happen here will mean anything in the Premier League table, and today, not that I want to overemphasise it, you had Man City going to Fulham and Fulham getting a point. "Arsenal lost and Liverpool lost, so all five contenders for there and anything can happen. The most regular has been United but we showed we are up to the levels of the champions - it is just this time this game didn't go our way but we will be up there competing for the title and I am glad sir Alex corroborates in this opinion."

Source: FOOTYMAD