Saturday 15 October 2011

REACTION: NOTHING SPECIAL YET


Having watched his team maintain a 100 per cent home record in the league and make it 12 goals scored in the last three games, Andre Villas-Boasindicated that the achievement so far is only par for the course.
Chelsea moved within a point of second-placed Manchester United with a win that brought to an end a series of frustrating home draws against Everton, who as they have done before at the Bridge recently, scored late on. By that stage though the Blues were 3-0 up thanks to goals from in-form Daniel Sturridge,John Terry just before the break, and Ramires who was injured in the process and forced to leave the pitch.
'It was a good win for us,' said a satisfied Villas-Boas.
'It is never easy coming back after an international break but it was important to get three points, particularly on a day when two title contenders played against each other.
'Eventually Man United got an important point at Anfield but at least it allows us to get closer to second position at the moment.
'I don't see it so much as Man United dropping points,' he said of the earlier 1-1 draw against Liverpool.
'I see it more as Liverpool dropping points, a point at Anfield is something that any manager takes. It still gives us the opportunity to get closer to them but of course we still need to go to Anfield.
'We have not done anything special. We just have to continue to win until we find a position of comfort at the top of the league.'
It took 30 minutes to take the lead against Everton, and the manager was pleased with patience shown as the team stuck to a plan.
'It was decisive to get the second goal just before half time which is something that never helps the opposition manager. A score of 3-0 then gave us the confidence that we needed to take the three points.
'We managed to play a lot from the back, tiring the strikers of Everton and eventually when they got the ball they could not respond with the usual aggressiveness that they have,' he explained. It was an analysis that Toffees boss David Moyes agreed with.
'It was a really difficult game but we have been to Chelsea before and we have had to defend harder,' Moyes added.
'Today we gave them the first two goals due to terrible defending and they didn't have to work particularly hard. We made some opportunities but the ball didn't run kindly, our players stuck at it, and I couldn't have asked for more except to defend better.'
Villas-Boas when asked about the performance of Juan Mata who played crucial passes for the first and third goals, highlighted the fact that the Spaniard is doing well due to his relationship with players around him. Moyes did speak about the individual.
'If Mata improves like David Silva has improved at Man City then Chelsea will have a player,' said the Scot, 'because he comes and he joins in and he gives them an extra midfield player.
'You need to find ways of coping with him and he made a pass for Cole for the first goal after he came into the middle of the pitch, and your full-back can't go all the way there with him.
'He has given them a new dimension at the moment and they are a more flexible Chelsea than they have been in the past.'
On Wednesday Chelsea entertain Genk in the Champions League before the return of the west London derby at Loftus Road next weekend.
'It is uncertain whether Ramires will be fit for those games until he has a scan on his knee but Villas-Boas indicated the injury is a minor one, before adding:
'We need three points at Queens Park Rangers which is going to be difficult and see what happens in the game between Manchester United and Manchester City.'

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