Villas-Boas: Lampard never supported me

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that midfielder Frank Lampard never supported him during his time at Chelsea.

Villas-Boas will take his ambitious Tottenham side to Stamford Bridge for the first time since getting sacked later tonight in a match that will heavily affect the top end of the premier league table. And remembering his time as a manager at the Bridge, the Portuguese said:

“There was a lack of support from Frank Lampard but his ability and quality were never in doubt. Whether the Chelsea players supported me does not matter right now. And probably being sacked made me a better manager.”

Villas-Boas joined Chelsea following a successful spell at FC Porto where he managed to lead his team to a Europa League treble. Tottenham currently trail Chelsea by two points and must win this game to keep their hopes of a top four finish alive. Villas-Boas played down the hype surrounding his return to the Bridge and added:

“Going back is not very special for me. We have beaten all the big teams apart from Chelsea. Now we have the opportunity to put destiny in our hands.”

He went on to criticise Chelsea’s style of play in the recent years and added that the frequent change of managers will impact the club’s progress.

“If you don’t have a style, it makes you invisible in football. Only teams with style succeed, but in the end, success normally is what matters in modern Europe.

“Obviously what is attractive to me is maybe different to the style of football you might find attractive. There are various types of teams, teams built along great creative players and these Chelsea teams have the ingredient to be able to play this type of football.

“If you remember the team of 2004 was an absolutely deadly machine of football, but in a different way, a great, great counter-attacking football and one of the great teams in the country.”