Villas-Boas says he only needs Chelsea owner Abramovich's support

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has claimed that he only needs the support of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to stay in his post, and added that support from his squad is of no relevance.

Media reports have suggested that an altercation transpired between the Chelsea coaching staff and players when they gathered at the training ground on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat at Everton.

While speaking ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth round match against Birmingham City, Villas-Boas said it was irrelevant to ask for players support and Abramovich's backing was the only thing that matters.

When asked whether he still had the support of his players, Villas-Boas said: "They don't have to back my project, only the owner needs to back my project. I think the owner has full trust in me and we'll continue to progress with the ideas that we have."

"In the end, we have the objective of getting the best position possible in the league. It would be extremely good for us if we win against Birmingham to put ourselves in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup," The Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

The alleged row between the Chelsea players and the coaching staff even prompted former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari to say that player power was one of the reasons he was sacked three years ago. (ANI)