Villas-Boas: Under pressure

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AVB targets top-four finish

As the prospect of Chelsea finishing top of the Premier League dwindles, Andre Villa-Boas shifts the goal-posts of success for his side’s season.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton left the Blues in fifth place in the standings with Arsenal overtaking their London rivals following their 2-1 win at Sunderland.

Manchester City lead Villas-Boas’ team at the summit by a massive 17 points and the Portuguese tactician has had to accept league silverware in his debut top-flight campaign is not in the cards.

Villas-Boas, who some believe faces the chop after just one term in charge, insists the west Londoners can salvage something in 2011/12 as they’re still on course in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

“No, well, this is a weekend and it doesn’t shift from weekend to weekend,” the former Porto boss said in response to whether he felt safe in his job at Stamford Bridge.

“Now we are fifth, level on points with the fourth team. We know exactly what our targets are for the season.

“There are still plenty of games to play. There is an objective and we have to set out to reach the objective. Champions League qualification is the least you can ask for.

“We need Champions League qualification and that’s what we expect. The objective is first place but first place is not a real objective anymore and neither is second.”