Wenger defends Andre Villas-Boas

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has leapt to the defence of under fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese coach has struggled so far with the rigours of the Blues job, but Frenchman Wenger thinks AVB just needs time to turn the situation around.

Arsene Wenger has also had a difficult time so far this year, after losing some of his biggest players during the summer transfer window.


Instead, Wenger thinks managers need more time to adjust their footballing philosophies, and backed Villas-Boas to succeed.


Wenger said: "I have big sympathy for Villas-Boas. I like him personally. I think he is intelligent, competent. You can only think that he will get it right.


"In our job you can only survive if you do what you feel. After, you can get it through or not. That is what I did, so for me it was not too difficult. I was just convinced of what I wanted and I was fortunate to face intelligent players.


"I had Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown - they are all intelligent people, and maybe they thought 'this guy is completely mad, but we will try and it can work'.


"It is hard, but I believe as well when a manager has strong players in the squad and they share what he thinks, it makes him stronger. If they go against (him), it is difficult."