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Andre Villas-Boas: Failure not an option

AVB: Failure not an option
© PA Photos
Andre Villas-Boas is not contemplating failure in Chelsea's Champions League clash with Valencia tonight.

Andre Villas-Boas has said that he is not contemplating failure in Chelsea's Champions League clash with Valencia tonight.

Victory or a goalless draw would be enough to see the Blues through to the last 16, but a loss or a score draw would relegate Chelsea to the Europa League.

If Chelsea cannot overcome Valencia, Villas-Boas would become the first manager under Roman Abramovich to fail to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.

When asked about the prospect of failure, Villas-Boas said: "I'm not going to answer that question. My focus is only on this game, not what's going to happen afterwards. I haven't even thought about going out. We cannot speak about that.

"What this game represents for me is irrelevant. For the club it represents whether we continue in this competition or not.

"Our mindset is to keep going in the Champions League so we approach this game with maximum care and the maximum confidence."

Villas-Boas said that the Stamford Bridge crowd should aim to be Chelsea's 12th man.

"The fans can have a massive impact against Valencia. They have to unite themselves," he said.

"I have good memories of top European nights at this club and I know the atmosphere that can be raised here.

"If they respond just like we did when we beat Barcelona 4-2 in 2005, we would have the right ambience to take on Valencia."

Daniel Sturridge insisted yesterday that Villas-Boas has the full support of Chelsea players.

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