Chelsea will bounce back at Napoli, says Villas-Boas
CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists his side’s struggle to salvage an FA Cup replay against Birmingham will not dent morale ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League trip to Napoli.
The west Londoners needed a second-half equaliser from Daniel Sturridge to avoid a major fifth-round shock against the Championship promotion hopefuls at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. That result – and a run of just four wins in 13 – do not bode well for the trip to Naples, where they will face a team who reached the last 16 at the expense of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
But asked how he could be confident in such circumstances, Villas-Boas said: “Because it’s football and it happens just like that when you least expect it. Napoli is a strong team but we are a strong team. We still believe.”
Villas-Boas has denied his job is on the line less than eight months after he arrived from Porto, but is facing mounting pressure. Chelsea are out of the Carling Cup and currently second best in a four-way battle to qualify for the Champions League.