AVB talks defensive problems, fans’ boos

Andre Villas-Boas has insisted there is no need for Chelsea to press the panic button, despite watching his side's season hit a new low with a shock home defeat to Aston Villa. Yesterday's 3-1 loss in the Premier League piled the pressure on their manager, with the Blues going into tomorrow's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers outside the top four. It is the first time in a decade Chelsea have been so low in the table at the turn of the year, putting Villas-Boas's project under more scrutiny than ever. The 34-year-old reportedly retains the support of billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, but some fans are beginning to turn and there have been fresh reports of dressing-room dissent. It is the sort of toxic mix that would lead some managers to embark on dramatic changes in personnel and tactics, especially with several players seemingly willing to leave. But Villas-Boas remains convinced such drastic action is unnecessary, with only two January arrivals expected at Stamford Bridge and no change to a system that has seen Chelsea concede more goals at home than anyone outside the bottom three. "I don't think so," said the former Porto coach when asked if his defence needed more protection. Villas-Boas was similarly dismissive of the urgency of reaching an agreement with Gary Cahill that would see the Bolton Wanderers defender become his first January signing. "If there is something to correct, we need to regain that confidence in the way we build up from the back," he said. "It's an easy thing to solve with players of this technical ability. With Gary, it's an ongoing situation." Despite Villas-Boas's protestations, Chelsea's defensive statistics do not make for good reading. The 16 goals they have shipped at home is already more than they conceded during an entire season for ten years. They have managed only one clean clean sheet at Stamford Bridge in the league. More importantly, they have lost three times in front of their own fans already, having been beaten on only five occasions at home during the previous seven seasons. It is this which heralded the boos for Villas-Boas and his players at the final whistle yesterday. The Portuguese said: "We want to repay the fans their trust. They've been magnificent in December. The fans have a right to show their disappointment. "Their away support has been magnificent. Their home support is improving. They know they can make a difference and we need them. There is no running away with excuses. "What we regret more is that, from the last four games, we've lost a big opportunity to shorten the distance to the leaders. Massive opportunities lost. We would have been running for the title if we'd had a better December." Villas-Boas rules out title challenge After hauling themselves back into the title race by becoming the first side to beat Manchester City in the league this season, Chelsea have tossed away nine of the last 12 points on offer to lie 11 adrift of the leaders. Villas-Boas said: "It's disappointing on the fact that, in the last three fixtures, all the top teams have dropped points. We spoke about how December could have been decisive in the running of the league. "From what is happening now, Arsenal made the most of a good December. Liverpool, too, in some way. The rest of the teams have struggled. All of them dropped points, but we couldn't make the most of it. It's difficult for us to be in perspective for league contention this year."