Fourth-place finish is not good enough for Chelsea, admits AVB

Andre Villas-Boas admits that Chelsea’s failure to mount a title challenge this season means his side have fallen short of expectations – but the Portuguese coach is aiming to make up for it by guiding the Blues to a cup double.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was at Cobham to witness the Blues’ preparations for last weekend’s Premier League clash with Manchester United – and the Russian billionaire then watched the west Londoners squander a three-goal lead as the defending champions snatched a dramatic 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas held talks with Abramovich over this season’s ambitions and the plans for the long-term during his visit.

And the Portuguese coach had no choice but to admit that his side’s league form has been a disappointment after Sunday’s draw left them 14 points behind leaders Manchester City in fourth place.

“They [the conversations] have been good – short and accurate and precise,” Villas-Boas, whose side travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday, told a news conference on Thursday.

“The objectives we have for this season are pretty much outlined, so those are two competitions where we look better and one competition where we have to dilute the damage and try to finish fourth at least, which is not a very honourable position for the dimension of this club.

“Bearing in mind the rest we focus on the same and a lot of focus on next year’s project as well.

“We haven’t stopped speaking, just because he is physically present it doesn’t mean the conversation has just started now.

“Conversation has been ongoing in different moulds but with physical presence you get your ideas across better so it’s good to have him here.”