- Premier League
Villas-Boas: Chelsea right to sack me
Andre Villas-Boas has admitted Chelsea's decision to sack him as their manager was justified by their coronation as European champions last May.
The Portuguese tactician was relieved of his duties at the West London club a little under two months before the Blues won the Champions League final in Munich, with Villas-Boas insisting he has 'moved on' from the annoyance he felt when he parted company with Chelsea in March 2012.
Ahead of his first return to Stamford Bridge since his departure 14 months ago, Villas-Boas stressed he has nothing to prove to Chelsea supporters, even though he accepts the decision to replace him with his assistant Roberto Di Matteo appeared to have a hugely positive impact on the club's fortunes.
"The decision was successful for Chelsea," Villas-Boas said. "In the situation like you were, it is understandable. It has happened in various clubs. It is not something new in football. In moments of maximum difficulties, you either believe in what you are doing or not.
"I have no point to prove. For me, [the return to Stamford Bridge] is not very special. It is a club I have gone past and I have good and bad memories. It was a period that did not finish the way that I would have liked.
"Before I was manager there, I was in Jose's [Mourinho] team and I had some wonderful years there. Probably the ones that I spent there as a manager aren't that special."
Villas-Boas went on to urge his players to embrace the pressure of their all-London battle to secure a top four finish, even though his Tottenham side are now very much third favourites to be beat Arsenal and Chelsea to a Champions League berth ahead of Wednesday night's must-win game at Stamford Bridge.
"It's a great, great fixture to have and the pressure is on everybody," insisted Villas-Boas. "These clubs are so tight together. Three clubs covered by three points at this stage of the season is outstanding.
"At the moment, our drive is to set out to win the game so we can depend on ourselves to win the remaining fixtures and we have a great task ahead of us.
"We set out with the objective of Champions League football for next season. We're not far from our objective. We're happy that we depend on us but we have to be extremely good at Stamford Bridge to achieve it."
Villas-Boas hopes his side's victories against champions Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal in high profile games this season will fuel their belief ahead of their most significant fixture of the season yet.
"We've done extremely well when we've competed against the top teams," Villas-Boas stated. "At the moment, our objectives are still in our own hands and if we win our final three games, we will achieve the top four.
"The objective from the club is to reach the level of success in trophies that Chelsea have achieved, within Tottenham's philosophy and club culture. From my perspective, this club have taken tremendous steps forward recently and want to be in the mix of teams that compete for titles."