Chelsea boss AVB admits time is running out

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas seemed to hint that time is running out for him as manager at Stamford Bridge, after watching his side slump to a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns yesterday afternoon.

A goal from Gareth McAuley wrapped up all three points for Roy Hodgson's side, and put further pressure on an already under fire Villas-Boas.


The result left Chelsea winning only three of their last 12 Premier League games, and now a further three points behind Arsenal, who won 2-1 against Liverpool yesterday.


Villas-Boas admitted that the pressure is building and that his long term future appears to be uncertain: "Will this result increase pressure on me? You have to agree with it. We are in the same position, fifth, but we are now three points behind Arsenal.


"It is a big, big disappointment. Every defeat Chelsea suffers piles more pressure on any manager.


"Today is acceptable that pressure piles on a bit more. We have responsibilities to the fans and the club and we did not perform."


Meanwhile, his counterpart Roy Hodgson suggested that Villas-Boas just needs more time to stop the rot at Stamford Bridge.


The West Brom manager said of AVB: "I sympathise and empathise with Andre but the day we coaches, who realise football has two sides to its coin, don't stand up for each other will be a sad day for football.


"He doesn't need advice. He is a very successful manager. I saw the Porto side play the other night at Manchester City and that is the team he put together.


"He has come to Chelsea with high expectations and it has not started as well as he would have liked but it is early days."