Villas-Boas: No Vote of Confidence, Abramovich Trusts My Methods

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he maintains the "full trust" of club owner Roman Abramovich and claimed it was "normal" for some players to disagree with him.

Villas-Boas has come under increased pressure after a poor run of results led to reports of dressing-room unrest.

Chelsea slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Everton last week to continue a wretched sequence that has seen the club take just 12 points from a possible 30, and slip to fifth in the Premier League table.

Nevertheless, Villas-Boas remains adamant he still enjoys a "perfect" relationship with Chelsea owner Abramovich and refuted suggestions his job was in danger.

"They [the Chelsea players] don't have to back my project," Villas-Boas is quoted in the Telegraph after a select group of players were summoned to a training ground inquest the day after Saturday's defeat away to Everton at the club's Cobham training ground.

"It's the owner who backs my project," Villas-Boas added, saying it was "normal" for some players to disagree with him.

"I think the owner has full trust in me and will continue to progress with the ideas that we have," he said. "There is no problem with him at all.

"It's a relationship that is perfect at the moment. We have discussed how we can correct what's going wrong. He asks how we will improve where we are and I have to put into perspective how we plan to do that."

"The funniest thing in football is the vote of confidence," Villas-Boas added with a smile. "It means it is the end. It would not make any difference. Maybe I don't want one!" My authority is total because it's the owner's authority."

And the Chelsea coach also revealed he had no problem with his players staying in contact with former boss Jose Mourinho.

Earlier this week, Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa claimed Villas-Boas would struggle to succeed at Stamford Bridge as a number of his players are still in touch with the Real Madrid manager.

However, Villas-Boas said it was "normal" for players to stay in contact with former coaches and contends the issue is not to blame for the club's current slide.

"It's really normal for manager relationships with players they've managed before. For sure I have no problem with [my players texting Mourinho]," Villas-Boas is quoted on talkSPORT.

"[After the game we had] a meeting of technical staff and players - nothing dramatic," he added. "They (the players) don't have to back my project - it's the owner that backs my project.

"The owner has full trust in me and we'll continue to progress with the ideas that we have."