Villas-Boas has Abramovich backing

Andre Villas-Boas insisted he retains the complete backing of Roman Abramovich and Chelsea's players on Friday, despite his nightmare start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas shrugged off the mounting pressure on him following the Blues' worst beginning to a campaign since Abramovich bought the club eight years ago.

Villas-Boas confirmed he had spoken to the Russian billionaire since Wednesday night's last gasp Champions League defeat at Bayer Leverkusen, and asked if Abramovich had promised to give him time to turn things around, he said simply: "Yes."

Villas-Boas refused to go into more detail about their conversation but added: "Everybody wants to get out of a situation like this."

The Portuguese had appeared drained after Wednesday night's defeat but looked confident and relaxed under the watchful eye of chairman Bruce Buck, who made a surprise appearance at the club's press conference to preview Saturday's game against Wolves.

Villas-Boas even joked he had not expected to see himself on the back pages of newspapers on Friday morning, despite the mounting pressure on him but events took a more serious turn when he denied reports of angry exchanges during meeting of players and staff on Thursday.

"Not critical meetings, no animosity, not insults here and there, no critique whatsoever regarding what we are doing, no doubts whatsoever regarding what we are doing," he said. "Self-confidence and self-belief is what we need now and everybody wants to get it.

"That thing only comes with wins."

He added: "The philosophy will be the last thing to die at this club. It's a thing that makes technical staff and players very, very proud."