• Premier League

Villas-Boas shrugs off Mourinho threat

ESPN staff
February 16, 2012
Andre Villas-Boas claims to still have the support of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich © Getty Images
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Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has insisted he has no problems with Jose Mourinho being in regular dialogue with members of his squad.

Porto president Pinto da Costa claimed this week that Villas-Boas was being undermined by Mourinho remaining close to key members of the squad he led to Premier League glory while at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas claims he remains in contact with players he became close to while at Academica and Porto and has dismissed suggestions Real Madrid boss Mourinho is undermining his work at Chelsea.

"It is normal," Villas-Boas said. "I have emotional attachment to players at Academica and Porto. I text them and they text back, it is normal. I have no problem (with Mourinho texting)."

Villas-Boas dismissed talk that he had a row with some of his players following the defeat to Everton, but did concede that he may not have the unequivocal support of the squad.

"Not strong words," Villas-Boas said of the meeting on Sunday. "We had no row. There was a meeting of technical staff and players, there was nothing dramatic. Everyone knows we need more, the results have not been impressive, it is up to the players and the management to take responsibility."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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