Villas-Boas wary of Mourinho return

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas admits he is wary of the ‘ghost’ of former manager Jose Mourinho as he reportedly seeks a return to England.

Villas-Boas, 34 and in his first season at Stamford Bridge, faces a fight to qualify for next season’s Champions League after an inconsistent season.

Despite insisting from the outset that he was drafted in under the premise of a three-year plan, the young manager had claimed Real Madrid manager Mourinho’s possible return will have all the top managers looking over their shoulders.

“I have no doubts in my mind,” Villas-Boas said. “Speculation will always come when you are unsuccessful and you are unsuccessful at Chelsea when you don’t finish first.”

“It led to all kinds of different managerial changes in all different kinds of countries and all different kinds of top European clubs.”

“It’s perfectly normal bearing in mind our position, if you were top of the league or in Man City’s position, you would speculate a little bit less.”

“But still, there is speculation also about Man City and United and their future.”

Villas-Boas, Mourinho’s assistant while at Porto and Chelsea, is fully aware that the Real Madrid coach will demand only the best jobs available.

“Jose is always a good ‘selling point’,” he said.

“The fact that there is the possibility of his return to England leads to speculation associated with the top clubs, for sure.”

“Jose doesn’t take anything rather than the top, because he represents exactly the top in management.”

“So whenever he becomes available, he’ll for sure be a ghost on every bench in the Premier League.”

Mourinho has never hidden his desire to one day return to the Premier League and although Villas-Boas has yet to finish his debut season he understands why his former mentor longs to come back to England.

“I think this is the best league in the world – we all agree with that – and after all of these years of absence he will want to make his return,” he said.

“It will be exciting. First we have to understand that his coming back would be excellent for the Premier League in terms of excitement and further competition and further competence, so fantastic.”