AVB hits back at Hansen

Andre Villas-Boas' war of words with Alan Hansen has continued following the BBC pundit's latest swipe at Chelsea's defence.

Hansen's criticism of the Blues reached a new level last week during his analysis of their 2-1 Barclays Premier League win at Wolves. The former Liverpool captain claimed centre-half David Luiz "wouldn't know what a good position is if it was staring him in the face", adding of right-back Jose Bosingwa: "He is so bad it's embarrassing."

Villas-Boas launched a furious tirade against Hansen last month and his response to the Scot's latest jibes were more controlled but just as cutting. Villas-Boas said: "I really can't get myself involved with these people again. Alan doesn't have the privilege that I have, to work with these players every day."

He added: "If everybody had perfect games, first media pundits would have no jobs because there would be no one to criticise. You'd have to find jobs in professional football, which is a little bit harder."

Villas-Boas leapt to the defence of former Benfica star Luiz, who was initially a revelation when Chelsea made him the second-most expensive centre-back of all time last year but has been found wanting defensively this season.

"I think he's played fantastically since the start," Villas-Boas said.

"You have to agree that there are misconceptions created from the start, since the player's arrival. Sometimes a player has to carry that stamp for the rest of his life. Just maybe, you got that impression with David.

"I saw him in Portugal, and now I can work with him. He's going to be one of the greatest central defenders in the world. Because of his characteristics: technical ability, anticipation and speed.

"There is a nature in a Premier League game that you have to adapt to - it's culturally different to other countries.

"That might be a massive shock, to come from Portugal to England, but you've seen people succeed doing that."