Villas-Boas: I was just another manager that ‘passed by’ at Chelsea

Andre Villas-Boas says he was just another manager who “passed by” at Chelsea ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge with Tottenham on Wednesday.

The Blues sacked the Portuguese coach after eight turbulent months in charge and replaced him with interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, who went on to lead the west Londoners to a Champions League and FA Cup double last season.

Di Matteo was given his marching orders in November and replaced by Rafael Benítez on a temporary basis until the end of this season.

And Villas-Boas, who took over at Tottenham last summer, says he now better understands how Chelsea operate following his dismissal.

“Chelsea is going through the same turmoil of managers after I left,” Villas-Boas is quoted as saying by the Guardian. “So it makes me a little bit calmer to understand how they work.

“I’m not sure if I passed time enough for me to feel anything [about going back to Chelsea]. I was another manager that just passed by.

“I spent three great years on the staff. When I was given more responsibility [as the manager], I wasn’t given time enough so it means absolutely nothing, although I have great friends [at Chelsea], who I don’t want to undermine by what I’m saying.”

A win for Villas-Boas’s Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday would move Spurs into fourth place and level on points with the Blues.