Mutiny at Chelsea after Brum draw
ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was left reeling from yet more dressing room unrest as a woeful Chelsea were held by Championship side Birmingham.
Just days after senior stars challenged their manager in a stormy team meeting, AVB was forced to deny fresh reports that Didier Drogba took the half-time team talk during the FA Cup fifth-round tie.
The Portuguese dismissed speculation of Drogba’s influence as “ridiculous” and said: “I have nothing to say on that because it makes no sense at all.”
But the under-fire Blues boss did admit that Fernando Torres watched the second half from the dressing room after being hauled off for Drogba at half-time.
On the substitution of the misfiring striker, AVB added: “I’m sure that he didn’t take it lightly but it’s a decision for the benefit of the team.”
Chelsea travel to Napoli this week for the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, with rumours rife that Villas-Boas will be axed if they fail to progress.
Sections of home supporters seemed to be chanting the name of former manager Jose Mourinho and they booed their team off the pitch at full-time.
AVB, though, remained defiant and denied that the result in Europe will have any impact on his future.
The 34-year-old said: “No, not at all. It’s not up to me to decide that.
“You have to ask that question to the right person.”
He added: “We had opportunities to win the game but it’s never good when you draw at home to a Championship team.
“It’s a poor result.”